A collaboration between police and shops in Yate has seen 13 people banned for shoplifting. Shopwatch was set up in 2020 as a way of tackling shoplifting and has seen a dozen shops sign up so far, including those within Yate Shopping Centre and surrounding areas.

The scheme is primarily run by the businesses in a WhatsApp group, which the police aren’t in. But officers can use the scheme to work with the antisocial behaviour team to issue warnings or banning orders.

Since launching, 13 people have received bans, which are managed by the police. It means if a shoplifter re-enters a shop that is part of the scheme, they would be liable for arrest.

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In December 2021, a man was issued a Community Protection Warning following shoplifting offences. And in June 2023, a local youth who had committed an offence in one of the stores was given a 12-month ban from all the stores.

In February 2024, the Sainsbury's Local at Ladden Garden Village joined the scheme. A man was subsequently banned from the store.

Avon & Somerset Police said: “The Shopwatch scheme was started in 2020 to ensure a joined-up approach between retailers and police to tackle shoplifting in Yate. It's a way that we could work collaboratively with businesses to encourage reporting, as well as provide employees with crime prevention advice.

“There are currently 12 stores signed up. The scheme is primarily run by the businesses who can keep in contact with one another via WhatsApp, which police are not involved in.

“However, we can also use the scheme to work with our antisocial behaviour team to issue a community protection warning or notice to serial offenders, on behalf of the Shopwatch retailers. Such orders ensure the recipient is banned for a set period of time from entering any of the stores signed up to the scheme.

“Should they be in breach of that order, then they can be liable for arrest. Since the scheme launched, 13 people have received such bans and they are managed by police to ensure suspects' personal data is not shared.”

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