Shopping Centre Becomes First to Launch Crime Initiative

MOTHERWELL Shopping Centre will become the first in Scotland to join crime-fighting authorities in launching an initiative targeting shoplifting on its premises.

The outdoor centre in North Lanarkshire has been working collaboratively with the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) and Police Scotland to launch the #copdog retailers’ crime reporting initiative.

The #copdog project aims to improve the way shoplifters are reported by retailers and reassure the public that shoplifting is taken seriously.

Geraldine El Masrour, Centre Manager at Motherwell Shopping Centre, said: “We have an excellent partnership with SBRC and Police Scotland, in particular Inspector Anderson’s Officers Brian and David who work with us tirelessly and this initiative is definitely one which will help our retailers and customers feel safer, especially as we work towards the Christmas period.

“Motherwell Shopping Centre’s retailers have jumped on board with #copdog and are all excited about it and look forward to seeing the benefits.”

Retailers including big stores Primark, Boots and Argos will all display the cartoon sticker of the #copdog in their windows to show customers they are part of the initiative.

The launch took place yesterday (MON) and it’s hoped that the initiative will be rolled out across other shopping centres in the country.

Lorraine Jarvie, Business Resilience Officer for SBRC, said: “It’s great to see the stores at Motherwell Shopping Centre getting behind the initiative.

“#copdog will help raise awareness within the centre and promote a safer shopping environment for retailers and customers.

“The initiative will also make it harder for repeat offenders to shoplift and we hope that when other centres see the benefits of this crime reporting initiative, it’ll be taken on by them in future.

“We’re really proud to be part of this initiative which will help create a secure environment for the local businesses to flourish in.”

SBRC exists to create a secure environment where business can trade securely, regardless of size and sector. SBRC leads a number of key work streams across Scotland including retail, financial resilience, secure transport and the night time economy.