Traders urged to back shopwatch radio plan

More than 50 businesses have told the town council and police they are interested in becoming involved in the project, which involves traders keeping in contact by radio.

With the radio a shopkeeper can pass on information about people thieving or acting suspiciously to others in the town.

Information will also be passed to community safety officers or police.

As well as the shopkeepers, the 14 licensed premises which are currently members of the Pubwatch scheme have also said they are interested in joining up.

Twenty traders attended a recent meeting and said they were keen on the scheme.

To ensure the radios work properly in the built-up area, a booster station has to be set up. That will cost in the region of £2,000.

Cllr Jeremy Heron, who is heavily involved in getting the Shopwatch under way, suggested finance committee members should wait until contracts had been signed before committing money to the project.

The committee agreed to support the scheme in principle and wait for more information before deciding how much money to put in.

Cllr Heron said: "It helps to support the local shopkeepers, not only to attack the effects of crime but also to act as a deterrent.

"The overall cost is about £2,000 for the repeater, there's £120-odd for the Home Office licence and the individual handsets are £195 apiece, or you can rent them for about £5 a week."

And he pointed out that the more people became involved the more costs would drop.

"I think that £5 a week it is affordable to anyone who wants to come into the scheme. The town council will be looking at support from the business community for the repeater station."

It is also hoped the radios can be linked in with the existing New Forest District Council-run CCTV system so that cameras can be targeted on any trouble in town and help provide evidence for prosecutions.

"It's something for the business community, and it will only go ahead with their support," he said.