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Pictured (from left): Sainsbury’s manager Colin Adesokan,
Inspector John Daly and community safety chief, Cllr Jake
Sumner. |
Shops and bars link up to put troublemakers in the frame
MUGshots of thieves and pub troublemakers are to be circulated
among shops and bars in Camden Town.
Members of Camden Businesses Against Crime (CBAC) will use two-way
radios to alert each other to shoplifters and potential troublemakers.
The scheme, which is backed by a £100,000 start-up grant
from Camden Council, will see those who continually offend being
banned from all member businesses.
Links to the council CCTV room will enable photographs and information
to be circulated, so that police can track criminals.
CBAC members who sign up to an information-sharing agreement
will have access to mugshots.
The shared information and images will be recorded on a specialised
database – the Business Information Crime System.
Colin Adesokan, manager at Sainsbury’s in Camden Road,
believes businesses need to take their share of the responsibility
in the battle against crime.
He said: “It’s a fantastic move. I don’t think
any other borough has done this. It’s not just a police
problem it’s a problem for all of us.
“Prevention is better than cure.”
He believes crime in Camden has risen since the clean-up of
King’s Cross
Mr Adesokan said: “This kind of system is needed everywhere
but, because of what’s happened in King’s Cross, crime
has been pushed up to Camden Town.”
CBAC has 40 members so far, with businesses paying between £350
and £740 a year to belong to the scheme.
Labour community safety chief Councillor Jake Sumner said: “People
who steal from shops and cause trouble in pubs and bars are
a real pain for the public and businesses alike.” |
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