Bakewell’s newest PCSO helps retailers shelve shoplifting

PCSO Hayley Grundy has been on patrol around the town in the last few weeks recruiting more shop owners to the scheme.

ShopWatch radio, which is run by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, has already helped cut shoplifting in the town and saw one person detained on suspicion of theft within two hours of launching in November last year.

PCSO Grundy, from Bakewell Safer Neighbourhood Team, said : “ShopWatch has had some great results since it started and I wanted to try and build on that by inviting more shops to sign up.

“The radios give retailers and staff a direct link with police and with other shops signed up to it, so if they see something suspicious they can alert us quickly, and officers can get there and stop a crime before it happens.

“The more shops that are signed up, the better and I will be out telling owners and staff how they can join the network.”

PCSO Grundy has been visiting shops along with Andy Watterson, from the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, to speak to retailers about the benefits of joining ShopWatch.

To find out more, contact the Bakewell team on 101.