Security guards hired to make up for lack of police
BUSINESSES ACT IN BID TO MAKE TOWN CENTRE SAFER
Groups of youths can be quite intimidating so we thought we would make things safe and secure Helen White
PRIVATE security guards have been hired to patrol Stockport town centre every day - to make up for the shortfall in police officers.
Totally Stockport, a group set up to promote businesses in the area, have employed four guards who work seven days a week.
They began on March 5 and patrol areas including the new Redrock leisure development, the Market Place, the Peel Centre and the Underbanks.
It is part of a range of measures Totally Stockport has introduced to prioritise ‘safety and security’ in the town centre in a bid to prevent issues such as theft and anti-social behaviour.
Police have said on recent weekends they have increased their own patrols to deal with anti-social behaviour and fighting in the area, particularly on Wellington Road South.
Helen White, from Totally Stockport, said: “Police are under so much pressure and have resource challenges, they have to prioritise.
“When they get crimes to investigate, those that affect retailers and businesses are the kind of crimes that aren’t quite top priority. “Also, anti-social behaviour. Groups of youths can be quite intimidating so we thought we would make things safe and secure by hiring our own security guards. “There is a lot of investment in the evening economy and we want people to feel safe and know that others are looking out for them.”
A business watch group - similar to a residential home watch - has been set up with help from police.
It meets monthly to share information, identify issues and priorities and discuss the gathering of intelligence to combat any crime and disorder.
There is also a storenet radio system that links shops in the business watch scheme to each other and security guards.
It is used to share intelligence, warn of the whereabouts of shoplifters and inform of any disorder taking place.
Helen added: “We are working closely with police to support the town centre team and to provide them with a town centre base.
“The safety and security of everyone who works, lives in or visits Stockport town centre is a priority.”
A Stockport police spokesman said: “If we can work with other agencies and partners to help police do their job, we will.
“As a force we have to accept if someone else hires their own legitimate security this is appropriate.
“We encourage people to think of their own security.
“We have officers allocated to the town centre but if things happen elsewhere they may be taken away to the other priority.”
Greater Manchester Police lost 2,000 officers between 2011 and last year - leaving numbers at the ‘lower end of reasonable,’ Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said last May.
And back in 2015, he said officers could not be expected to attend every ‘routine incident.’