Police and shops in Wickford are joining forces in the fight against crime as rogue galleries are dished out to traders in the town.

The tough new initiative will see shops in the High Street who have signed up to the scheme receive photo albums of convicted crooks in the area so they can be on the lookout for potential trouble makers in their store.

The project called, Essex Retail Against Crime (ERAC) hopes to send a message to shoplifters in the area that police and shop keepers are on the look out and will not tolerate crime.

The move comes after a similar initiative was implemented in Billericay, where shops in the High Street, Queens Park and South Green all received photo albums of convicted criminals in the town.

Around 14 shops have signed up to the project in Wickford, and more are hoped to join in the coming months.

Pc Geoff Whiter from Wickford Police was delighted with the move and he is also encouraging shops to put a 'No Hats or Hoodies' Essex Police sign in shop windows.

He said: "In conjunction with ERAC we are encouraging traders to put the sign up in their window which asks shoppers to remove their hats or hooded tops. This will enable the shopkeepers to identify any shoplifters more easily.

"The scheme has received a warm welcome by traders as it provides them with an extra tool to protect themselves and reduce the looses they suffer from shoplifting."

Spokesman for the Wickford Business Association, Colin Maclean, added: "The traders and other businesses in Wickford are delighted to be working in partnership with Essex Police.

"The ERAC scheme means store managers and police can work towards a safer High Street for shoppers and residents."

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003

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