Shopwatch box piloted in Leeds

West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council teamed up with 30 local shops and businesses to be the first in the north of England to take part in ‘Shopwatch’ – a pilot scheme where ‘alert boxes’ are installed to combat crime.
This scheme aims to reduce high street crime and anti-social behaviour and empower businesses to work together and build a strong community.
The Alertbox is fitted to the wall behind shop counters and allows messages to be broadcast to other members of the scheme. Shop owners taking part in the scheme can call for immediate assistance from other shops by pressing a red button, or send out a message to other shops using an amber button.
The device has a digital display along with an audible alarm to alert businesses to the nature of the threat, the business address where the alert came from and the phone number.
Inspector Mark Bownass from North West Inner neighbourhood policing team said: “Although the box is not a substitute for 999, if there is a crime in progress or the owners are in fear, it allows members of the shopkeeping community to support each other and provide peace of mind, as well as working with us.”