ALMOST 70 shops in Culcheth have joined forces to launch a Shop Watch scheme.

CSO Steve Dodd, from Risley Police Station, approached every business in the village to ask them to share information about crime and anti-social behaviour.

Shopkeepers now have a list of contact numbers for other premises in the area so they can keep up-to-date.

CSO Dodd said: “Shop Watch works in a similar way to Home Watch - shopkeepers look out for each other and feed valuable information between themselves and local officers.

“Information police receive from the community is vital in helping us to identify and target problems and that is why the data gathered as part of the Shop Watch scheme is so important.

“The scheme provides valuable reassurance for shoppers and sends out a clear message that criminal and anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in the Culcheth area.”

All the companies to so far sign up have been provided with stickers which they will display in their windows.

Ross Tutton, manager of Sainsbury’s in Culcheth, said: “This is an excellent idea that brings the community together working in partnership with the policing team.”

And CSO Dodd added: “It is important to remember that the scheme is not designed to replace a call to the police if staff see someone actually committing a crime.”

Call CSO Dodd on 0845 458 6390 for more information.