Stourport shops join scheme to fight back against thieves

The ShopCop scheme will see retailers communicating with each other and Stourport police officers using the Whatsapp messaging service.

This will allow store workers to pass along information and intelligence relating to potential offenders. Currently, 21 businesses have signed up to take part in the scheme.

In 2021, officers in Stourport found that shoplifting had increased "exponentially" in the town centre in February and March. Essential retailers that remained open throughout the recent lockdown were being targeted.

PSCO Andy Stevens, who is the driving force behind the scheme, spoke to participating retailers at its launch earlier today (Monday, June 7).

He told The Shuttle: "I had an idea to create a watch scheme, where we create a platform where all retailers can link in together and they can be aware of what's going on in the town centre, and so can we as a local policing team."

"I had the idea of using Whatsapp to promote this work and this idea because it's free, there's no subscriptions, and the fact that most people have got a mobile phone.

"If an offender walks into Poundstretcher for instance on Lombard Street - they shoplift, or attempt to shoplift - the manager can be straight on the Whatsapp group".

He says shop workers will be able to share a person's height, sex, their direction of travel to alert other retailers in the town.

PSCO Stevens also said if an offender gets banned from a store as part of the scheme, they will also be banned from the other participating retailers for a year.

He added: "The idea is to try and deter future thefts. We administer the Whatsapp group so we know who's going on to prevent misuse.

"If we're in the area we get the alerts straight away and we go and challenge the individuals."

Thompson and Parkes manager Nikki Shipton and supervisor Harry Dowling-Bingel, PCSO Andy Stevens, and Euro Garages supervisor Becky Rowley and manager Martin Whitehouse

Brandon Davis, who works as a team leader at the Coop, said: "I think the scheme will benefit the Coop in many ways, from banning people from the stores and reducing shoplifting. Not only that, but make the staff feel a lot more comfortable."

Martin Whitehouse, manager of Euro Garages said it's a "perfect" idea and has already helped to alert staff of a potential case of shoplifting. He said: "The more shops that get involved, the better."

Dave Allcock, who runs Allcock's Outdoor Store, said: "I think it's a great idea, it's an instantaneous method of communication that we can all use to our benefit and hopefully improve our business and the general wellbeing of out community."

Nikki Shipton, manager of Thompson and Parkes Stourport, said: "We originally got onto this scheme due to theft in out store. I think the scheme's going to be brilliant to eliminate theft and stop various criminal activities within the area. Everyone can keep and eye out on each other's businesses."