Crimestoppers Launch - City Centre

Increased crime in Plymouth City Centre is being tackled head-on by the Plymouth City Centre Company as business concerns grow about the impact on trade.

The City Centre Company has teamed up with Crimestoppers UK to set up a city centre action zone to raise awareness of the issues amongst businesses and customers and urge business owners, managers, staff and customers to report crime so that it can be effectively tackled.

Businesses have expressed their concerns for months about a big increase in retail crime, especially shoplifting, drug taking and anti-social behaviour.

The new initiative was launched at the Plymouth Methodist Central Hall with representatives from city centre businesses, the police, Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC), Plymouth City Council and Crimestoppers UK.

Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “ The levels of crime and anti-social behaviour are becoming intolerable for our business owners, so this was an opportunity to bring everyone together to try to get more support and action. Our PARC officers and police do a brilliant job but it’s becoming overwhelming.

“We are determined to make the city centre safe and welcoming for everyone.”

Karen MacDonald, regional manager for Crimestoppers UK, said: “This initiative gives people the opportunity to report crime anonymously and we can then give the information to police to tackle this criminal behaviour.”

A new forum with the police and businesses and other interested groups will also be set up and the City Centre Company has also contacted the Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, to appeal for more city centre support.

Please make sure your business reports all crimes. The more intelligence we can give the police, the more support we will get.

Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) App - Available to all City Centre BID Businesses

The easiest way to report a crime is via the PARC App. This comes at no extra charge to city centre BID businesses. If you are not signed up to PARC, make sure you do so today (PARC signup form available here)

Email Steve.hughes@citycentrebid.co.uk for more information or to request a visit or talk to one of the PARC officers.

Storenet Radio Offer

Or, if you are looking for extra security you can rent a Storenet radio for £9 a week which gives you instant access to the CCTV room, police and PARC officers.