ZERO-tolerance of beggars, street-hawkers, shoplifters and rowdies is the aim for Blackpool centre from now on.

For the Blackpool Town Centre Forum - a consortium of businesses and the borough council - has appointed a warden to help ensure its streets are kept safe and pleasant for shoppers and workers.

Steven Shaw's job is to patrol the main shopping area, report problems to the police, link up with shop-managers and security guards to stop trouble, and make sure any graffiti, rubbish or vandalism is quickly dealt with.

Forum manager Nigel Hanson said: "We've introduced the warden to give an extra sense of security in the town centre, not only for shoppers but shop assistants and business owners.

"It's very important that people feel safe in a shopping area. Not only is it more pleasant but it's good for business.

"The warden's role is to identify problems as they occur, liaising with the retail staff, police and security staff.

"We already have a radio-link system, in which the retailers have a two-way radio connecting them with police and the CCTV control centre, which is very active and a big success."

There are now ten close-circuit TV cameras keeping watch on town centre streets and car parks, and a further seven will be added in the next few months, covering the Yeadon Way coach and car parks.

In addition, a town centre ranger also patrols the centre, making sure it looks spruce, cleaning up graffiti, touching up paintwork, clearing fly-posters and repairing vandalism.

It all adds up to a joint effort between businesses, the council and the police to make Blackpool an attractive, safe and secure centre for visitors to shop in and enjoy themselves.

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