Shopping centres throughout Oxfordshire will be safer thanks to a new initiative to reduce crime and the fear of crime, writes David Duffy.
The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Thames Valley Police Business Crime Centre have joined forces to urge shopping centres throughout the county to join the new campaign, and achieve Safer Shopping Awards, which have been introduced by the Home Office.
The awards will be given to town centre partnerships which reach set standards to reduce retail crime and increase community safety.
Among the centres being targeted are Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington and Oxford.
Chamber chief executive Frank Stroud said: "The new Safer Shopping Awards provide an excellent opportunity for businesses in our town centres to build on the already strong relationships they have with their local councils and police, to tackle crime and the fear of crime."
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