Retail crime meeting planned

A special public meeting on retail crime will be held on Tuesday evening at the Kingdom Life City Church, Graham Gardens, Lisburn.

The meeting hosted by Lisburn and Castlereagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) will host the meeting at 7pm to allow local traders and businesses to have their say on issues relating to retail crime.

District Commander for Lisburn and Castlereagh District, Superintendent Sean Wright said he would like to see a reduction in shoplifting, distraction thefts and money changing scams throughout the city.

Retailers are operating in a very competitive environment and it is really important that they are not incurring any unnecessary losses,” Mr Wright said.

“We all want to see a reduction in the level of shoplifting, and distraction thefts such as money changing scams, in the town centre, and in order to achieve this it is important that traders, CCTV operators and the police work together as one.

“Our collaborative efforts should be a real deterrent to criminals who will find it increasingly difficult to operate undetected when their unlawful actions are under such scrutiny.”

As well as the PSNI other designated organisations from the PCSP will also be in attendance. These include the Fire Service, Youth Justice Agency, Probation Board, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, South Eastern Education and Library Board and Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Chairman of the Lisburn and Castlereagh PCSP Councillor Scott Carson said, “We are keen to hear the concerns of the local community which includes the business community. Regardless of size, businesses are at the heart of the community and crimes against businesses not only impact against the local economy, but it also damages perceptions of local areas.

“Some of these concerns may include organised crime gang attacks, robberies and burglaries against business property, shoplifting and violent crime involving drugs and alcohol and cybercrime. The PCSP works closely with Lisburn City Centre Management, Lisburn Commerce against Crime, Lisburn Chamber of Commerce and recently launched a Lisburn City Safe Zone based at Premier Taxis in Smithfield Square. I would encourage a good attendance at this meeting.”