100th member for anti-crime scheme

A PERTH city centre information sharing scheme, designed to help the retail trade combat crime, has signed up its 100th member.

PACE (Perth Anti-Crime Exclusions) was developed in late 2005 as part of the Safer Cities initiative for Scotland.

It aims to reduce crime in Perth city centre by sharing information on criminals between members, Tayside Police and Perth City Centre Management.

Persistent offenders were identified, and through photographs, radio messages and the use of civil exclusions their opportunities for crime in the city centre have been greatly reduced.

The 100th member is Early Learning Centre, High Street, Perth.

Scheme manager Ian Campbell said, “The scheme has raised awareness to the retail trade of identified persistent shoplifters and criminals.

“Due to this raised awareness, detection rates for things like shoplifting have greatly increased.

“I fully expect crime to decrease over the next year as civil exclusions and information sharing target these criminals.”

For further information call safer city centre programme manager Ian Campbell on 01738 477929.