Community and police working together

Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner believes Sunderland’s Shopwatch scheme is a “fantastic example” of officers and the community working together.

Kim McGuinness attended last Monday’s special event held to mark the scheme’s 25th anniversary and celebrate its many successes in the city over the last two decades.

While acknowledging the excellent ongoing partnership work between police, businesses and city partners, the Commissioner said it was also important to look at the wider causes of retailrelated crime.

She said: “I know full well that crime and the fear of crime can really impact businesses and the people who run them.

“Shopwatch in Sunderland is a fantastic example of a community-based crime prevention scheme and shows just how well retailers and local police can work together to ensure quick, effective responses to the small minority who take things without paying for them.

“It’s important that the reasons why people do this are very much on our radar too so we can do something about it. My Violence Reduction Unit is supporting our police at tackling these root causes too, to try and prevent these problems from happening at all.”

The chair of Sunderland’s Shopwatch scheme, Kirsty Currie, welcomed the Commissioner’s input.

Kirsty said: "I am delighted that the Commissioner was able to speak to members about her plans and listen to some of the challenges businesses are facing in the city centre regarding crime and antisocial behaviour.

"I have been chair of Shopwatch for four years and in this time the city has had to adapt and work much more in partnership to tackle city centre issues, and I am pleased to say that the scheme has and continues to play a big part in that."