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Stirling’s business owners are invited to an intelligence briefing to discuss crime trends and how to tackle shoplifting in the city next week.
The meeting, hosted by Retailers Against Crime (RAC) and Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID), takes place in the WorKing Flexispaces on King Street at 10am on Tuesday January 21.
The briefing will provide details of the most active shoplifting suspects, cover crime trends and show footage of the current methods being used to commit crime in Stirling.
It will also give an insight into RAC’s SentrySIS crime-fighting tool which is used by many in the city’s business community to tackle antisocial behaviour.
The software system, which is provided free to BID members, allows users to share real-time information and alerts about thefts and other crimes happening in Stirling and has been successful in tracking down the culprits of a number of offences.
Stephanie Karté, National Operations Manager at RAC, said: “With retail crime losses, violent altercations within retail premises and antisocial behaviour soaring, it is now, more than ever, imperative that we work together to tackle this epidemic.
“The information shared at the RAC Intelligence Briefing will help build stronger knowledge of retail crime trends and how to combat them. I urge all businesses to attend as by working together in partnership and encouraging community spirit we can all play a massive part in making Stirling a safer place to visit.”
Meanwhile, the Go Forth team is keen to see more BID retailers take up the offer of free RAC membership and make use of the innovative SentrySIS scheme.
Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We began subsidising RAC membership for our levy payers three years ago after receiving complaints about antisocial behaviour from traders.
“Since then, use of the SentrySIS scheme has grown substantially as more businesses have signed up and it really is a key tool in identifying people involved in crime and allowing retailers to warn each other about real-time issues and offenders.
“The more traders who use the reporting system the more effective it will be and we are keen to see more independent businesses join the programme.”
Go Forth subsidises the cost of RAC membership to all levy-paying and voluntary BID members giving them access to the SentrySIS (Secure Intelligence System) platform to report crime, receive alerts about criminal activity in the area and create evidence logs to help police detect offences.
Ms McRorie-Smith added: “I hope to see BID members come along to the briefing next week to find out more about the kind of crimes which are happening in Stirling and learn how they can help tackle shoplifting and other antisocial behaviour.”
Anyone who plans to attend the briefing next Tuesday is asked to confirm their attendance by email to info@retailersagainstcrime.org
Retailers Against Crime is a national retail crime partnership, established in 1997, which aims to detect and prevent crime by sharing information on local and travelling offenders with members and partners throughout the UK. More information is available on their website – www.retailersagainstcrime.org
Go Forth Stirling is the city’s BID representing more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to the city and devising initiatives to help make it a more welcoming destination for businesses and shoppers.
For more information visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
