Retailers across Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping town centres are being encouraged to join the Shopwatch scheme as South Kesteven District Council looks to strengthen local crime prevention measures.
The initiative, which is already in place in Grantham, gives participating businesses access to radios so they can share information quickly, warn each other about suspicious activity and coordinate with local partners.
The radios will be linked to the council’s CCTV control room, where cameras are monitored around the clock, and will also be able to connect directly with Lincolnshire Police.
South Kesteven District Council is providing £25,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support the expansion of the scheme.
Councillor Paul Stokes, deputy leader of South Kesteven District Council, said Shopwatch would “give retailers the chance to work together in a practical way by quickly passing on intelligence to each other.”
Barbara Mooney, Pubwatch and Shopwatch co-ordinator for Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping, said the radio licence would be covered for the first year.
Businesses must be members of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Shopwatch scheme to benefit from the offer.
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