A new partnership between Wythenshawe town centre manager – St. Modwen Properties – the centre’s retail traders and Greater Manchester Police has been established with the aim of further driving down the already low crime levels in Wythenshawe town centre.
The Wythenshawe Shop Safe Partnership will implement a visible communications campaign and oversee the roll out of a new radio security system which will provide 100 per cent coverage of the town centre via a dedicated and secure shortwave network.
The new radio system will operate in addition to the established and successful CCTV system which covers the town centre and will also see more information sharing between the police and retail traders to help identify would-be shoplifters and others intent on anti-social behaviour.
Shop workers will use the new radio system to report crimes or suspicious behaviour instantly to a security team which patrols the town centre 24 hours a day. The system will make a significant contribution toward creating a more secure environment for workers and visitors.
The system also includes a ‘panic button’ facility which can be activated silently and out of the direct sight of shoppers and criminals. Once activated an instant alert is sent directly to the security suite which will then begin tracking the area with its CCTV system and immediately dispatch foot patrols to the scene of the alarm.
Wythenshawe town centre manager, Victoria Nichol, said: “Thankfully crime in Wythenshawe town centre is very low and we are committed to rooting out anybody who is intent on targeting the town centre.
“We take crime committed against our tenants very seriously and have invested thousands of pounds in recent years on a range of security measures to maintain a safe environment for shoppers and tenants alike.
“The new radio system is the latest of these and it will become a key tool in maintaining the low crime levels we currently enjoy.”
Sergeant Jane Butler from the Wythenshawe Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Crime in Wythenshawe is the lowest it has been in 10 years, however we are always looking for new initiatives that can help us make Wythenshawe an even safer place to live, work and play.
"The introduction of the new radio system will not only help to deter shoplifters but it will also ensure that employees and residents feel safer, which is our number one priority."
The new radio system is now operational with the new handsets being rolled out to users in the next few days.