Shopwatch launched in north of the city

A new shopwatch scheme to help reduce shop-related crime and abusive behaviour toward staff has been launched in the north of Lincoln.

The North Lincoln Shopwatch scheme brings retailers together so that they can share information about potential issues, or incidents which may have happened, and receive alerts from the police when suspects are identified or banning notices and exclusion orders are given to persistent shoplifters.

Each retailer which signs up commits to buying a radio to join the communication network, making all of the stores able to link in with each other quickly and efficiently. They also have the option of signing up to an app which the police use to collate and share a weekly report on issues and people of note

The scheme also means that businesses on the ground can share information about anti-social behaviour, such as descriptions of people, or the types of issues they have caused.

So far, 16 retailers have signed up. And it’s already working; in one incident, a local store having a radio and information about potential criminals, meant that officers were notified about a wanted person and were able to make an arrest.  

The Lincoln North Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) got the ball rolling to set the scheme up after noticing that shoplifters were exploiting the fact that retailers were not in regular communication in the same way that those in the city centre – which already operated a Shopwatch scheme – were. The initiative will be run by an executive committee which is being chaired by Waitrose and Lincolnshire Co-op and includes the City of Lincoln Council and Police as partners.

Inspector Dan Gilmore leads on community policing in the north of the city. He said: “Shoplifters were exploiting a gap in the shared knowledge of our businesses, and we knew that the best way to close that gap was to bring those retailers together and open up channels of communication which would enable to them stay ahead of the curve.

"PCSO James Lingard has spent the past year working on the details to ensure that this scheme could operate autonomously, and more importantly, effectively, and the support from business has been exceptional. The primary objective of North Lincoln Shopwatch is to reduce crime in and around retail businesses and at the same time to notify other businesses of potential problems.

"By getting the shops to work together there is a feeling of community between those retailers, and a shared purpose in reducing crime and improving conditions on the ground for staff. These businesses are leading this through the Executive Committee, and we are supporting it, along with the City of Lincoln Council.

"This doesn’t replace our traditional policing and we will still be patrolling the areas and dealing with criminality when it happened, and of course staff can still report issues on 101 or via 999.”

Businesses in the north area of Lincoln who are not yet registered can sign up to the scheme by emailing PCSO James Lingard on [email protected]. He will provide further information and point retailers in the direction of where to buy the radio from, and how to use the app.

PCSO Lingard will also go out to train people on using the radios so that they can get the best out of the scheme.

Steve Leach, Chief Operating Officer at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “We are proud to be a part of this collaboration aimed at tackling retail crime in the North Lincoln area. Ensuring the safety of our colleagues and the wider community is a priority for us, and we are always keen to explore new ways of tackling and reducing crime within our outlets.”

The project has been supported by the City of Lincoln Council.

Councillor Martin Christopher, Abbey Ward Councillor and Member of the North Lincoln Shopwatch committee, said: “The North Lincoln Shopwatch scheme represents a vital step forward for our local community, giving businesses the tools they need to stay connected, safe, and supported.

"We’re seeing positive results already—swift reporting, clear communication, and strong partnerships are making a real difference. I encourage all businesses to join us in this initiative, and help us build a community network where we can stand stronger together.

"This initiative not only helps protect businesses but also reinforces its commitment to building a safe, welcoming environment for all who live, work, and shop here.”

Councillor Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, added: “Supporting our local businesses is a significant priority for the city council and implementing initiatives like shopwatch in the north of the city play a key role in ensuring that business owners, staff, and customers feel safe and protected.

"While we are proud of Lincoln being a warm and welcoming city, it is not immune to the effects of anti-social behaviour. This scheme, and others like it, provides businesses with the support they need to deter crime, which is essential in keeping our shops open and our communities thriving. The group aims to strengthen communication between businesses, the police and the council. Doing so will help us to address the challenges posed by shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

"The shopwatch initiative is a powerful example of how joint collaboration can create a safer environment that allows our local shops to thrive.”