Business Watch Crime Reduction Schemes

Business Watch

Dunstable has a number of Business Watch crime reduction schemes that are aimed at businesses, primarily in the town centre.

All of the schemes use a partnership approach involving Central Bedfordshire and Dunstable Town councils, the Police and the businesses themselves. A regular meeting also takes place with businesses, the Police and other agencies to talk about any arising town centre crime issues and solutions.

Radio Link Scheme

The Radio Link Scheme has been running in Dunstable since 1999 and is a two-way radio system used by shops, pubs and other agencies to warn each other about crime or possible crime/anti-social behaviour situations. The radios enable the users to have a direct link to the controllers of the town’s CCTV cameras, which means that cameras can be directed to cover situations as they arise.

Radio Link

Offender Photo Scheme

Through this scheme the Police provide photos of any known regular shoplifters that operate in the area, to retailers to assist them in recognising potential problems and to take appropriate actions to prevent them entering and stealing from their shops. There are strict rules/protocols concerning the use of the photos and who is eligible to appear on the sheets.

Pub Safe Scheme

The Pub Safe Scheme works with pubs and clubs to try to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in and around licensed premises in the town. As well as using the radio link scheme the licensees operate a policy of “banned from one banned from all”, which is known as Bedfordshire Against Night-Time Disorder or BAND. Through this scheme Pub Safe members vote to ban someone, who commits a serious offence in or around pubs/clubs, for a period of 12 months or more depending on the circumstances, from all members’ premises.

Radio Link

For more information on any of the above schemes or meetings please contact John Seamarks, Community Safety Officer at Central Bedfordshire Council

Tel: 0300 300 5490 or Email: john.seamarks@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Date Updated: 05/05/11