Download our latest Durham ShopWatch case study to discover how a decade-long partnership has improved communication, strengthened collaboration and helped tackle retail crime.
The growing impact of retail crime on businesses
Retail crime continues to put increasing pressure on retailers across the UK. Shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and violence towards staff are daily challenges for many businesses. In Durham, however, retailers, police and partner agencies have spent the last decade working together through the ShopWatch scheme to improve communication, strengthen partnerships and create a safer city centre.
This leaves only one question: how can businesses come together to combat retail crime?
Apex Radio Systems helps retailers stay connected, protected and informed on any shoplifting, violence or ASB in the area, using our ShopWatch schemes.
Instant communication with businesses across the area enables retailers to:
- Receive pre-warnings about known offenders
- Request assistance when incidents occur
- Share intelligence with neighbouring businesses
- Improve communication with CCTV operators and partner agencies
- Increase staff confidence, knowing support is a button press away.
Durham has created a connected community, consistently protecting each other and working towards a safer environment.
A 10-year relationship working towards creating a safer environment
A 10-year relationship between Apex Radio Systems and Durham Constabulary has made a difference to the safety of retailers and shoppers within Durham city centre. With 94 ShopWatch users on the scheme, our ShopWatch radios have made a significant impact on the communication between retailers and police in the area.
By sharing information in real time, retailers, police, security teams and partner agencies can respond more effectively to theft, anti-social behaviour and repeat offending.
Durham Constabulary experienced challenges with real-time communication between police and retailers; this highlighted the need for improvements due to multiple factors, such as rising levels of retail crime and the need to strengthen partnership communication. These challenges then led to the decision to work with Apex Radio Systems, introducing the ShopWatch scheme into Durham city centre.
Based on recommendations and previous experience, Durham Constabulary selected Apex Radio Systems to introduce the ShopWatch scheme across Durham city centre. The network connects retailers directly with each other and police, providing immediate support during incidents while strengthening partnership working across the city.
How ShopWatch transformed communication across Durham
Since the introduction of ShopWatch in Durham city centre, Durham Constabulary has seen significant improvements in collaboration between retailers and police. Real-time information sharing has enabled faster responses to incidents, while businesses have become more willing and confident to share intelligence and work together.
Durham Constabulary has reported the following key operational benefits of the scheme:
- Faster intelligence sharing between stores
- Improved situational awareness during incidents
- More effective partnership working
- Increased confidence amongst retailers when reporting incidents
- Enhanced ability to identify repeat offenders
Alongside the operational improvements, retailers have also experienced a range of long-term benefits over the past 10 years, including:
- More resilient and reliable communication channels
- Increased retailer confidence and engagement
- Improved coordination
- Better overall partnership effectiveness.
Dean Flinn, Police Community Support Officer for Protection & Problem Solving at Durham Constabulary, states: “I would recommend Apex Radio Systems to other police forces or partnership groups looking to improve communication and collaboration. Their solutions provide a practical and effective way to strengthen partnerships and support crime prevention activity.”
One example of the scheme’s effectiveness involved a young person who had been kidnapped in Essex and trafficked to the North East. Police alerted retailers through the ShopWatch network. Within an hour, a retailer spotted the victim and suspect in Darlington town centre. As officers travelled to the scene, retailers provided live updates over the radio, helping police locate those involved quickly.
Reflecting on the incident, Dean Flinn said:
“Without Apex radios, we may not have found the victim.”
Could a ShopWatch scheme help protect your town?
Whether you’re a Business Improvement District (BID), Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), local council, police or a retailer looking to strengthen communication and keep towns and cities protected and safe, Durham’s story shows the long-term impact a scheme can have on businesses and their staff.
Apex Radio Systems now supports 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 Durham case study
Want to learn more about how Durham Constabulary and retailers have worked together, in partnership with Apex Radio Systems, to create a safer environment for Durham retailers and visitors?
Download the full case study to discover:
- The challenge Durham was facing
- The solution Apex put in place
- The benefits for both police and retailers
- The long-term impact
- The partnership between Durham and Apex
Durham’s experience demonstrates how effective communication and partnership working can help businesses respond to retail crime more quickly, support staff and strengthen community safety.
Discover how Durham Constabulary and retailers have built a stronger partnership over the last decade. Download the full case study to explore the challenges, the solution and the long-term impact of ShopWatch on businesses, staff and public safety.
