PERSHORE’S retailers have been chosen as the first in Wychavon to be introduced to a new website by West Mercia Police to help reduce crime.
Pershore Town Safer Neighbourhood Team will soon launch ‘Facewatch’ – a secure online networking website – to enable the police and the public to tackle low level crime by sharing images within its members, and by submitting digital files to police to assist in the detection of crimes.
Local businesses and shops around the town can sign up and the system acts in a similar way to Facebook for sharing information.
It allows retailers to share images of thieves or suspicious persons they have had in their store. There is also a direct link to the police which enables stores to report the incident immediately.
Inspector Adrian Knight of West Mercia Police hopes the scheme will prove to be a success in Pershore and if so, will seek to roll the scheme out across the Vale and Wychavon.
“This is an innovative tool which will make our communities safer and protect local businesses profits.
“It won’t distract our officers attending dynamic incidents, but it enables shops to quickly and effectively share information with the business community and the police,” he said.
The scheme is a nationally available tool that many communities have already invested in.
There is no large cost for businesses and at less than a pound per week it is cost effective even for the smallest businesses.
Anyone interested in joining should contact West Mercia Police on 101 and ask for PC Sean Woods.
