Security officers carrying handcuffs on patrol in Boscombe

Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District (BID) has invested in the pilot wardens in an effort to tackle abuse and violence against shop workers.

It has been warned by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that anyone who carries handcuffs should be aware their use could constitute a crime unless it can be proved that the use of them "was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances".

The BID is funded through a levy on businesses to provide collective initiatives and measures to promote the area and address issues and concerns.

Peter Ruscoe, vice-chair of Bournemouth Coastal BID, said: “The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that nationally shop workers experience more than 450 incidents of abuse and violence every day.

“In order to address this serious matter, Bournemouth Coastal BID, following numerous meetings with levy payers, is piloting ‘BID wardens’ in Boscombe.

Read more: Plan to replace fire-gutted beach cafe approved - but work won't start for 9 months

"These wardens are employed by us to help deal with this issue.

“These professionals are trained in the legal use of handcuffs when dealing with violent offenders – and we fully support them.

“So far our wardens have been very successful in Boscombe, and we have received great feedback from our levy payers, to the extent that we are planning to roll out the scheme to our other areas.

“Ultimately we want to help create safe places for locals, visitors and workers.”

BCP Council, which has not provided any funding for the wardens, said the local authority could confirm two part-time officers had been employed by the Coastal BID to focus on loss prevention.

Read more: Couple avoid prison over 'prolonged neglect' of alpacas and horse

"They are SIA licensed security who have done additional training in order to carry handcuffs," a council spokeswoman said.

In response to a Freedom of Information request on the authority's view on the use of handcuffs, the SIA said it neither endorses nor declines to endorse handcuff use.

"There is no law in the UK that prevents civilians carrying handcuffs," the SIA response said.

"SIA licensed security operatives have no legal powers over and above other civilians.

"Anyone who does carry handcuffs should be aware that their use could constitute a crime, unless they can show that using them was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances."