Shop owners in Southport are being urged to keep reporting any thefts and anti-social behaviour to Merseyside Police in an effort to crack down on crime in the town centre.
At the latest Southport Business Improvement District (Southport BID) Retail Leadership Group meeting, Merseyside Police officer Tony Williams revealed that information and evidence against local offenders is currently being collated with the aim of issuing Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs).
These are then issued to repeat offenders by the courts and conditions can be imposed such as being prohibited from entering Southport town centre. If breached, the suspect can receive a prison sentence.
Tony Williams is asking Southport businesses to keep reporting thefts by calling Merseyside Police on 101 in order to target individuals for Criminal Behaviour Orders, and to call 999 in emergencies.
Where possible, business owners are also being asked to supply CCTV footage to the police.
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said the BID is currently reviewing the use of the town link radios as they are useful to some but not all retailers, so is asking business owners to advise where the BID should focus its support.
In terms of apprehending shoplifters, Tony Williams confirmed the procedure to use the town link radio and report via 101; retailers are encouraged to keep their radios on at the till point.
Tony added that Merseyside Police officers are happy to provide retailers with advice on how to use the radios if and where required.
Rachel Fitzgerald said that Southport BID is currently working on an initiative with Apex to provide more effective communications between retailers.
Where customers refuse to wear masks or face coverings to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in retail outlets, Tony Williams confirmed that any incidents should be reported via 101, or 999 in emergencies. He advised that staff should not put themselves in danger by challenging abusive or aggressive individuals who refused to wear masks.
Merseyside Police will be invited to the next meeting to discuss how the issue is being dealt with.
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