Businesses that want to find out more about Shop Watch in East Cambridgeshire and collect a free Members’ Pack are invited to a special event on Tuesday 5 December.

Shop Watch is a scheme similar to Neighbourhood Watch. Running via WhatsApp it allows businesses to effectively communicate with each other to help tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

To date around 90 retailers have signed up to the scheme in Ely and 17 are members of the Littleport initiative. There are hopes to set up a group in Soham as well.

Steve from Steve’s Shack shop in Ely, said: “I would recommend all shops consider joining Shop Watch. By working together and notifying others it is easy to crack down on shoplifters and reduce theft, particularly as we are now approaching the busy festive season. Simply by being more aware and prepared can also help to protect staff, especially if someone is displaying abusive or threatening behaviour.”

The Shop Watch launch is being organised by East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP) which brings together representatives from the police, Federation of Small Businesses and East Cambridgeshire District Council, as well as other organisations working together to protect the local community from crime and help people feel safe.

Lis Every, chair of the CSP, said: “We want to extend a warm welcome to all businesses that would like to find out more about the Shop Watch scheme. Representative from the CSP, the East Cambs Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Federation of Small Businesses will be at the launch on Tuesday, 5 December at East Cambridgeshire District Council.

“They’ll be able to find out more about the scheme over a cup of tea or coffee, sign up to the What’sApp and collect a free Shop Watch pack. This contains a poster, window sticker and a Safer Business, Safer Streets pack, which has kindly funded by the Police and Crime Commissioners.”

Darryl Preston, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am pleased to be able to fund this initiative – tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan.

“Shop Watch is a fantastic way to bring local businesses together to share information which will help protect local communities from crime.  I would urge all #East Cambs businesses to sign up to the scheme to help the police tackle those responsible.”

Retailers are invited to sign up for one of two sessions which run between 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm.

Book here via Event Bright

Or email ECCSP@eastcambs.gov.uk to confirm attendance or for more information.

Picture shows, from left to right: 

Steve from Steve’s Shack, St Mary’s Street, Ely

Sgt Mat Lupton-Pike East Cambs neighbourhood policing team

Lis Every, Chair of the East Cambs Community Safety Partnership

Jeremy Reeve from the Federation of Small Businesses

Joanne Andow, Community Safety and Projects Support Officer for the CSP

Barry Lonsdale, head of Ely Traders Association