2018
Shops in Arnold to get new state of the art radio systems to help tackle shop theft and anti-social behaviour.
Date Posted: 9:54 AM on Fri, 16 November 2018
The Arnold Shop Watch Radio Scheme, which has been in operation for nearly 15 years, will have new digital radios thanks to funding granted to Gedling Borough Council. Large chain stores Asda and Sainsbury’s, shops and licensed premises are all signed up to the scheme which lets them to communicate with each other and to the council’s CCTV control room to report any anti-social behaviour or suspicious activity.
Gedling Borough Council bid for funding from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and received £10,000 towards the radios as part of its Community Safety Service. The new digital radio system, replacing the current analogue system, will increase the quality of communications between shops, promoting the sharing of information within the business community.
The radios will be distributed in known hot spot areas on Front Street, Arnold and in licensed premises in the town centre. At present, 35 radios will be distributed to the shops and licensed premises. The radios will feed directly to the council’s control room where they can monitor CCTV and update the store owners. The radios are also an opportunity for shops to exchange information and improve general communications on the high street.
The radios are being upgraded at the same time as new CCTV cameras have been installed on Smithy Crescent, Arnold in response to a recent increase in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
Security Team Leader at Asda Arnold, Martin Holmes said;
“The new radios are much better, we can hear everything clearly now. The old analogue radios were not working and most of the time we couldn’t use them, the new radios will make it much easier for us to talk to other shops if any incidents occur.”
Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said;
“The new radios will be a welcome upgrade and will give shop owners a much improved way of communicating with each other if they see any anti-social behaviour or suspicious activity. The Police and Gedling Borough Council rely on the eyes and ears of the people on the ground in our town centres and this will give them the tools they need to be one step ahead and, along with the new CCTV, will give residents confidence that we’re doing everything we can to make our streets safer for them.”
For more information about the scheme or if you are a shop owner interested in signing up to the scheme, contact our Community Team on 0115 901 3845.