THE STREETS of Warwickshire are safer thanks to a crime-fighting initiative – and that’s official.
The Warwickshire Retail Crime Initiative (WRCI) has won national accreditation from Secured by Design for operating lawfully, effectively and to the standards supported by the National Police Chiefs Council.
The WRCI, which has members across the county, is a partnership which aims to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in retail and licensed business premises in Warwickshire.
Secured by Design is the official police security initiative, and the accreditation is a recognised standard awarded for reaching a high level of security.
The WRCI is made up of several town centre partnerships and has members across Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick, Stratford, Alcester, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Atherstone.
The accreditation comes after the WRCI was awarded a £10,000 grant from Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe to specifically target and prevent prolific offending in shops and licensed premises across the county.
WRCI is a member-funded organisation, and also receives financial support from BID Leamington, the Rugby and Stratford BIDs, Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire District Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire.
Peter Guillaume, of the WRCI, said: “We are pleased that our operating standards have now met the required standards.
“This comes at a very opportune time when the scheme has been awarded a grant for targeting and preventing prolific offending in shops and licensed premises in Warwickshire, for which WRCI and its members are very grateful.”
