Initiatives such as ShopWatch and PubWatch have all been supported by Safer South Gloucestershire to help traders with safety and security and some traders have praised these schemes and the effort being put into the area.
John Godwin, executive member for external affairs and partnerships, said: “Staple Hill has had a dedicated community safety group for many years which has meant that local people, traders and organisations work with the council, the police and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder in their area.
“We are pleased that traders feel able to come forward and praise some of improvements that have been made locally, which highlights the successful examples that effective partnership working has brought to the area.”
Local ward councillor Shirley Potts added: “It is encouraging to see the good community spirit alive and well on the streets of Staple Hill. There are a number of really positive schemes around for the local community to get involved with including the Power House youth club based at The Sanctuary, a community flat, a SureStart Centre, coffee mornings for people living on the housing estates, the development of the library and proposals to create a teenage play area in Page Park.”
At last week’s budget settlement it was agreed that nearly £140,000 is to be invested in CCTV monitoring across the district over the next three years, which will also help make residents feel even safer in their local communities.
What do traders and police think?
Lynne and Pete Mathias own and run ‘The Attic’, a family-run business for more than 38 years, carrying out house clearances for solicitors, estate agents and private customers.
The Attic’s premises benefited from a grant under Safer South Gloucestershire’s ‘Safer Shops’ scheme five years ago, which paid for shutters to be installed across their windows and front door. In 2006, they were able to access further funding for CCTV cameras that have resulted in massive improvements to the shop’s safety and security.
Lynne describes life before the shutters and cameras: “We’d always felt vulnerable, being situated on the corner of North Street and Downend Park Road, with windows on two sides. We’re also midway between Downend and Staple Hill and groups of people walk past on their way home after a night out. They used to throw litter and urinate in the corner.”
The Mathias’ got some quotes for shutters and they were too expensive for them to consider. Then they read in the Bristol Evening Post about the Safer Shops grant for small businesses.
“Safer South Gloucestershire sent someone to assess our security and they arranged for shutters to be installed. The shutters improved our security 100%. Now, when we close up for the night or we go on holiday, we know we’re perfectly safe,” says Lynne.
The second, most recent funding from Safer South Gloucestershire meant that a camera was placed at the front of the premises, since many goods are displayed outside. “We can now keep an eye on any ‘customer’ who is acting suspiciously. The CCTV makes potential shoplifters think twice, but if they do try and shoplift from us, we can record the evidence needed to bring them to book.”
The police have used CD footage obtained from the camera as part of their investigations on several occasions.
Andy Hichens, senior community safety officer with Safer South Gloucestershire, has been praised by the Mathias’ for arranging the funding and instalment of the security equipment.
“All the support Andy and his team have provided has been fantastic. I cannot praise him enough,” said Pete.
As an established business, Pete and Lynne know other local traders and they call them if they see someone heading their way who is acting suspiciously. Lynne says: “We feel safe in the Staple Hill area and we’re in regular contact with the local police and PCSOs.”
ShopWatch
The local Chamber of Trade took the lead in implementing a ShopWatch scheme in the area over nine years ago. The scheme is popular among traders and customers alike and acts as a strong deterrent for shoplifters and criminals.
The scheme is similar to one in Kingswood where shopkeepers had taken on a radio system that linked them up, so that they could keep in touch and warn each other of any suspicious or potentially dangerous people or situations. The Chamber of Trade approached fellow Staple Hill traders with the initial costs and licensing details and many of them were keen to be involved.
The company who provided the radios, Co-Channel Electronics, also provide radios to traders at The Mall. Around 25 shops joined the scheme at first, and then the local police beat officer asked if he could have a radio, too, which the Chamber of Trade funded.
A protocol was agreed for using the radios and a few arrests were made as a result of the scheme. Then, in 2002 Safer South Gloucestershire offered to finance a transmitter, which gives much better reception and means that traders no longer have to go to the front of their premises to use the radios.
Staple Hill Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Paul Bolton-Jones believes that having a radio link is very reassuring, especially to lone staff members when they are faced with two or three shoplifters working together, or intimidating/aggressive customers. Lost children, purses and keys have also been located using the radios.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Kevin Thatcher says: “Traders in Staple Hill haven’t looked back since ShopWatch was introduced. Some of the Staple Hill traders who are involved in the ShopWatch scheme tell us that shoplifting has gone down and the sense of community spirit, which is already strong in this area, has also improved.”
PubWatch
PubWatch is a scheme that involves all the pubs in the area working together and with the police and the council’s anti-social behaviour team, to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in Staple Hill.
ENDS