Radio rollout to help seaside shoppers feel safer

Representatives from Tendring District Council, Essex Police and ShopSafe Alert gathered in Clacton for the recent launch of the scheme there

More than 100 businesses at Essex seaside towns will be handed radios to help crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour, a council has said.

The ShopSafe scheme is being rolled out to Frinton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and Harwich.

Tendring District Council said 18 radios were recently shared out in Clacton town centre as part of a £27,600 grant.

Gina Placey, the independent cabinet member for partnerships, said it was an "excellent scheme that will help make shopping safer in our town centres".

The council and Essex Police set up the local initiative, run by security system company ShopSafe Alert.

The scheme - which includes the radios and an online app for sharing information and photos - is funded by the police, council and the police, fire and crime commissioner.

In the summer, Essex Police reported anti-social incidents had almost halved in Tendring, but conceded there was still more work to do.