TRADERS have joined forces with police as part of a crackdown on crime in Barnoldswick town centre.

Retailers are working with the nighbourhood policing team by displaying warning posters, sharing information about shoplifters and other criminals and excluding trouble-makers from their stores.

The crime reduction scheme was launched on Wednesday when the police unveiled special Shopwatch stickers designed by West Craven High Technology College student Aimie Thornton.

She won a competition at the school to design the Shopwatch sticker.

Community beat manager PC Brendan Wood said: “The best crime reduction initiatives are those where local people work with the police to prevent crime and Shopwatch schemes are a great example of this.

“Working with local traders as part of the new Shopwatch scheme we are confident that we can further reduce the already quite low levels of retail crime in Barnoldswick and improve communication between Shopwatch members which can only be a good thing.”