TRADERS and police will be getting tough on Christmas criminals.

Leigh Town Centre Management Initiative has a strong, clear message to shoplifters and thieves -- Stay away, you are not welcome in Leigh town centre!

They aim to ensure out-of-town professional criminals who target different town centres are given an especially difficult time this Christmas with increased radio links and more police officers on patrol.

One of the most effective moves is the retail radio link, ShopWatch, which has increased substantially over the past year and now includes over 60 store radios, making it one of the biggest schemes in the North West.

The radios, all co-ordinated by a dedicated radio officer, cover shops throughout the whole of the town centre. Two of the newest members to join the successful scheme are 'Peacocks' and 'What Everyone Wants' in the Spinning Gate Shopping Centre.

Stores can transmit information quickly and effectively to other members of the scheme, plus the radio co-ordinator and local police. A link is also provided to Central Watch in Wigan where town centre CCTV camera operators are quickly able to record incidents.

Partnership

The scheme, part of a partnership between Wigan Council, police and local retailers, has seen the incidents of shoplifting and theft decrease substantially in Leigh town centre saving local stores thousands of pounds while shoppers are also protected from crimes such as pick-pocketing and theft.

In addition to the successful radio link, GMP also support the town centre with their annual Christmas Initiative which includes an increased number of officers in the town centre in high visibility uniform. This acts as a deterrent for would-be criminals and helps to reassure shoppers.

High on list of priorities this Christmas for both the radio scheme and the police are out of town professional shoplifters who target different town centres.

Town Centre Manager, Laurie Barton, says: 'We are aware that shoplifters may come into the town centre from out-of-town areas so our ShopWatch members, radio co-ordinator and police are being extra vigilant.

"The strong message to them, and any would-be thieves, is go somewhere else this Christmas because you are not welcome in Leigh town centre!"