Major Newton Abbot retailer welcomes free crime-busting initiative

Newton Abbot retail ‘royalty’ has welcomed the free trial of a new crime-busting initiative.

David Austin, owner of the town’s century-old department store, described the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) online portal as ‘exactly what businesses need’.

He was speaking at a meeting on November 13, hosted by Newton Abbot Town Council (NATC), at which the app-based crime reporting system received its local launch.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez was present for the occasion, her office providing the funds to cover a year’s free subscription for any business in town that wants it.

Those who sign up are provided with what the not-for-profit UKPAC operators describe as a ‘one touch’ crime reporting system that provides police with all the details they need, improving the odds of securing convictions.

Local authorities are also kept in the loop to assist with civil order and welfare matters such as offenders struggling with homelessness or drug addiction.

In addition, the system provides business operators with automatic updates on their cases and offers warnings about potential trouble heading their way.

Having accepted the offer of year’s free trial, David Austin said: ‘This links us with an easily accessible security system that’s going to give us a lot more robustness in the town.’

Speaking about the usual 66p per day cost of the scheme he added: ‘It seems to be very good value and I think it’s exactly what businesses need to help the individual retailers and help the community.

‘I think it will also help to take our local town security team into another level, they do a very good job already but this can make its even better.’

Also in favour was Inspector James Johnson of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. He said: ‘It’s a collaborative approach to problem-solving, making our town safer by making sure that everyone is feeding into that information picture so we can really focus on those who are causing the most harm.’

Mrs Hernandez told the meeting that UKPAC had impressed her so much that she had decided to fund the free trial.

‘We really wanted for people to see if it can make a difference,’ she said.

‘We want to get them [offenders] on the system and capture them, really helping to relieve the pressure on businesses, particularly the staff who are getting assaulted and dealing with verbal attacks.’

Pierre Doutreligne, NATC’s Strategy and Projects and Strategy Officer, arranged the meeting and will be promoting the scheme among the town’s businesses.

He said: ’I urge all businesses in town to embrace this ‘one-stop’ crime-reporting initiative. The scheme has already yielded tangible results in Torquay in terms of town safety, and the Commissioner’s offer to cover a year’s subscription with no strings attached makes joining UKPAC a real no-brainer’.