The British Retail Consortium Safer Shopping Award was presented to Ron Woodman, general manager of the Metro Centre recently by Mike Schuck, assistant director at the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

VIP guests at the ceremony, which took place at the Centre in December, included Northumbria Police Chief Constable Crispian Strachan, NERCP chair Elaine Carey and Coaltion chief executive Anne Tate.

This award was won thanks to the combined efforts of management, retailers, police and the North East Retail Crime Partnership (NERCP).

The accolade is a national scheme backed by retailers, police and the Government, which recognises excellent standards of management and operation by retail crime partnerships across the UK.

Management at the Centre, together with retailers and officers from Northumbria Police, have worked tirelessly in recent years to tackle shop theft, antisocial behaviour and car crime.

Their efforts as part of the NERCP have paid off with a fall in retail crime last year of 55%. Car crime has also fallen - down 14% last year and building on a massive 45% drop from the previous 12 months. Since 2001 car crime has been reduced by 88% overall, with no displacement reported by Northumbria Police.

As a result of information sharing between members of the Partnership, the detection rate for car crime has also soared from 14% to 37% over the same period.

Speaking at the Safer Shopping Award presentation, NERCP chair Elaine Carey said: "Winning this award is not simply good news for the Metro Centre, retailers and police. The people of the North East and those that come from further away to shop in our area can feel secure in the knowledge that this is a safer place to visit."

Coalition chief executive Anne Tate added: "I am delighted that the efforts of the North East Retail Crime Partnership and all those who have dedicated so much time and effort to reducing crime at the Metro Centre have been recognised.

"The Award speaks volumes for the excellent relationship between businesses, police and other agencies dedicated to tackling crime in our region."

Northumbria Coalition Against Crime, Northumbria Police HQ, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0BL
Telephone 01661 868 424, Fax 01661 868488, E-mail [email protected]