BUSINESSES are taking a lead in the fight against crime in Prestwich.

Members of the town's business forum are to set up a BusinessWatch, with the backing of police, to encourage shoppers and businesses to stay local.

Prestwich already has a similar scheme for pubs and clubs, and the move comes hot on the heels of a crime survey carried out by the forum.

Questionnaires were sent to 120 forum members based in and around the Longfield Precinct. Of the 49 businesses which returned forms, 80 per cent had been victims of crime, and more than half of those on more than one occasion.

The majority, 63 per cent, perceived that crime was high and only 19 per cent thought it was low. Some 90 per cent of businesses have invested in security devices. However, levels of reported crime in the last year were found to be lower than people thought for robbery, burglary and shoplifting, and it was only cases of deception that exceeded people's perception.

It is hoped that initiatives such as a "ring-round" system co-ordained by Greater Manchester Police will keep businesses one step ahead of criminals.

Mr Mike Williams, scheme co-ordinator for the forum, said: "We are working towards improving security and, hopefully, making Prestwich a better place to live, shop and own a business.

"In the next couple of weeks we will get the scheme going and we hope to continue to work closely with the police to improve security collectively; that is all we can do."

Mr Dennis Kirk, watch co-ordinator for Bury Division, said: "We already have very active HomeWatch groups, a Pub and ClubWatch, HospitalWatch and SchoolWatches.

"If we are going to set up a BusinessWatch we have to tailor it to meet the needs of businesses.

"We had a 40 per cent response to the survey which I am told is not bad for this kind of thing."

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