Crime Reduction Scheme
Dunstable Town Council supports several crime reduction schemes that are aimed at businesses, primarily in Dunstable town centre. All the schemes use a partnership approach involving Central Bedfordshire, the Police and the businesses themselves.
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.
ShopWatch
The Town Centre Team attends 6 weekly Shop Watch meetings to ensure a cohesive effort in addressing and alleviating issues that affect the town centre to ensure a safer community.
Shop Watch brings together businesses both small and large for the common purpose of reducing retail crime. Through the sharing of intelligence, its purpose is to pass on early warning of known shoplifters who have been spotted within the area. Successfully operated elsewhere within the country, Shop Watch has led to arrests and prosecutions for retail crime, the return of stock and making staff feel safer knowing there is a community of fellow retailers watching out to what is going on in our shops and streets.
Representatives from Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire Police, Local Independent traders, and large retailers attend Shop Watch in Dunstable.
To join Shop Watch or for more information, please contact the Town Centre Manager Annette Clynes: annette.clynes@dunstable.gov.uk
Pubwatch Scheme
The Pubwatch 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.
For more information on any of the above scheme or meetings please contact the Community Safety Team at Central Bedfordshire Council Tel: 0300 300 8302 or Email: annette.clynes@dunstable.gov.uk
