Crimebusting pack goes rural

The scene in Ahoghill village last week where folks came together to launch the Ballymena Retail Crime Reduction Pack. Included is Chairperson of Ballymena PCSP Councillor Roy Gillespie and Karen Moore, PCSP manager. INBT 49-802H

Following the successful introduction of the Ballymena town centre Retail Crime Reduction Pack, funding has been secured from Ballymena Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) to broaden the initiative to other towns and villages in the borough. Retailers who could potentially be at risk of shoplifting and counterfeit fraud will be issued with the guidance pack outlining their rights regarding shoplifters and may also have the opportunity to avail

of a counterfeit detector to combat fraud on their premises.

Packs and detectors will be distributed to small independent retailers by the rural community safety wardens who are also funded through Ballymena PCSP.

Since April the Community Safety Warden has made 640 contact calls with retailers in the rural villages and has monitored or reported 248 incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Chair of Ballymena Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Roy Gillespie said: “In these hard times it is essential that everything possible is done to prevent retail crime. It is difficult enough for small retailers to make a living without the scourge of shoplifting.

“This booklet gives all retailers the knowledge they need to act in relation to retail crime and I am delighted that it’s being distributed throughout the rural retail sector.”