20 Years of Making Redcar Safer: Download Our Latest ShopWatch Case Study
How one town built a stronger community response to retail crime through collaboration and communication.
Retail crime continues to place increasing pressure on businesses across the UK. Shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and violence towards retail staff that have become everyday challenges, leaving many retailers asking the same question:
How can businesses work together to create safer town centres?
The answer often isn’t simply investing in more security. It’s creating a connected community where businesses can communicate instantly, share intelligence and support one another when incidents occur.
That’s exactly what has been achieved in Redcar.
A ShopWatch Scheme That Has Stood the Test of Time
For over two decades, Redcar Business Against Crime (RBAC) has brought together local retailers, businesses, the council and police to tackle crime collaboratively. Today, the scheme connects 61 ShopWatch users through a digital radio network, enabling businesses across the town to communicate in real time and respond quickly when incidents arise.
More recently, the network was upgraded with 30 Hytera HP605 digital radios, extending coverage and ensuring businesses on the outskirts of the town remain connected alongside those in the town centre.
Communication That Makes a Difference
When retail staff can’t leave their premises, every second counts.
Through the ShopWatch network, businesses can instantly:
- Warn neighbouring retailers about known offenders
- Request assistance when incidents occur
- Share intelligence across the town
- Improve communication with CCTV operators and partner agencies
- Give staff confidence knowing support is only one button press away
Rather than businesses working in isolation, Redcar has created a community that actively protects one another.
The Results Speak for Themselves
According to businesses using the scheme, the impact has gone far beyond simply introducing two-way radios.
Retailers have reported:
- Faster communication between businesses
- Earlier identification of known offenders
- Greater collaboration across the town
- Improved awareness of criminal activity
- Increased confidence amongst frontline staff
Craig Robson, Store Manager at Sports Direct and Volunteer for RBAC, summarises the impact perfectly:
“The radios have become an essential part of how businesses in redcar work together to tackle retail crime, support one another and create a safer town centre, what stands out most is the sense of community it creates.”
Could Your Town Benefit From a ShopWatch Scheme?
Whether you’re a Business Improvement District, local authority, Business Crime Reduction Partnership or retailer looking to strengthen communication, the Redcar story demonstrates how a collaborative approach can deliver long-term benefits for businesses and their staff.
At Apex Radio Systems, we now support more than 280 ShopWatch and PubWatch schemes nationwide, helping towns and cities stay connected, informed and protected through reliable two-way radio and body-worn camera solutions.
Download the Full Redcar ShopWatch Case Study
Want to learn how Redcar built a successful ShopWatch scheme that continues to support businesses over 20 years later?
Download the full case study to discover:
- How the scheme was established
- The challenges retailers were facing
- Why digital radio was chosen
- The measurable benefits for local businesses
- Lessons other towns can apply to their own ShopWatch schemes
