Shipley shopkeepers are taking to the airwaves in a bid to curb town centre crime.

Traders have joined forces to form the fledgling Shipley Retailers Crime Reduction Partnership and are to be issued with walkie-talkie radios, enabling them to stay in constant contact with each other and the police.

The technology - funded by the businesses themselves - will enable shop staff to pass on information such as descriptions of suspected or actual shoplifters to their colleagues in an instant.

And with the radio channel monitored by police - on sets sponsored by Woolworth's - officers will be given an early warning of any troublespots.

As well as shop theft, the £325 two-way radios will enable the alarm to be raised in the event of incidents such as disturbances inside or outside shops, customers being taken ill or lost children.

Shipley newsagent and Bradford Chamber of Trade president Eric Hudson, who is chairing the new retailers group, said: "So far nearly 20 traders have expressed an interest in having a radio and we're hoping to have them up and running by the end of April.

"It's something that's worked in other areas and will provide an excellent link to enable information to be passed on very quickly between ourselves and to the police.

"Shop theft is a major issue for retailers. It's a problem throughout the country and no worse in Shipley, but what we're trying to do is minimise its effect here.

"There's been a great deal of interest in going ahead with the retailers' forum, with 20 to 30 at the inaugural meeting.''

Inspector Nigel Cawthorne, of Shipley police, said: "This initiative is really encouraging and a great example of retailers, the Council and police working together to tackle crime. It's a clear message to criminals to keep out of Shipley or get caught.

"Shipley's a safe place to shop and work but like all towns there's a problem with shop theft and there's a small nucleus of criminals.

"That's who we're aiming to target and the more we can do to combat them the better.''

Inspector Cawthorne said town centre beat manager PC Brian Watson had been instrumental in setting up the radio-link which will complement Shipley's CCTV system.

"It will be a deterrent but also a means of helping to detect crime,'' he added.

Shipley Town Centre manager Bob Parker said: "It's a very positive move which can only help reduce crime and the fear of crime in Shipley.

"It will also help shopkeepers who are on their own to feel less vulnerable.''

PC Watson said: "I'm a big believer in people talking to each other about problems that actually affect everyone. Anything that helps bring them together has to be a good thing. It's going to be a huge boost to the retailers and will help create a community mentality. It will be a source of information and intelligence and help mobilise some of the people I rely on to police the town centre.''

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