Rawtenstall traders unite to beat criminals

3:46pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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SEVENTY businesses in a town are joining forces to ban anyone who commits crime from all their premises.

PC Phil Buck, PC Frank Romasanta and PCSO John Pepper have set up the Rawtenstall Business Watch which was officially launched today.

Any offenders who commit crime at any of the premises, will be banned from entering Bank Street - where many of the premises are - and any others on the scheme for a minimum of 12 months.

Asda and Tesco are among those who have signed up for the scheme, which has been strongly welcomed by local shop owners.

Crime prevention officer PC Phil Buck said: "Anyone who commits a crime including shop lifting, burglary, criminal damage or anti-social behaviour will be banned from all the businesses.

"When a crime is committed all the businesses will be notified.

"People who come to the attention of the police will be sent a warning letter. If they commit another offence an exclusion notice will be served on them by one of our police officers."

For just £10 businesses get a sign in the window to say they are members and any leftover cash will be used to fund an internal CCTV camera which will be loaned out to vulnerable businesses.

Freddie Cunliffe, owner of Freddie's Salon, was delighted to support the initiative.

"These people shouldn't be in Bank Street. There was never anything to do when I was a kid but I didn't go round vandalising people's property.

"I have CCTV which caught people damaging my shop and Sunday Best.

"We've spent a lot of money making our business look good and it's just annoying when people wreck it."

Amanda Payton, sales assistant at Beaux Enfants, Bank Street, was happy to join the scheme after suffering a break in last week.

"It seems a really good idea. There's a been a few robberies and burglaries in this area.

"Rawtenstall is a nice place we want people to visit our shop and feel safe."

Mario Bellusci, who runs Bellusci designer menswear shop, and Jan Shutt, of Sunday Best, said they supported the scheme because it would encourage police to commun- icate better with retailers.

Jan said: "We've got the community radio and that worked well.

"Anything where you collect as a group of people gives you strength."

Anyone who has not yet signed up for the scheme can do so by calling PC Phil Buck on 01706 237481.