News Item - News - Surrey Police

Traders in Hersham declare Alertbox warning system a success

Submitted: 15/01/2010 12:25:04

Successful warning devices for traders in Hersham

TRADERS and local businesses in Hersham have declared a network of electronic warnings devices, installed by Surrey Police, a success.

The Alertbox, which is a network of linked electronic warning devices, allows shop vendors and traders to instantly communicate with each other to reduce incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour.

When one member of the network issues a warning about a particular issue the message is instantly sent to all the other businesses on the local network, giving owners and staff the opportunity to take appropriate action to prevent further offences.

Alertbox networks were introduced in two pilot schemes at parades of shops in The Halfway in Hersham and Sunbury Cross in Sunbury-on-Thames in March 2009.

A total of 51 independent businesses across the two locations agreed to take part in the scheme.

A recent survey of the businesses involved found that almost a quarter of traders had used the Alertbox system to make neighbouring businesses aware of a situation or incident.

Of the businesses involved 100 per cent received a response from other traders when sending an Alertbox message and 73 per cent said they believed the Alertbox had reduced fear of isolation amongst businesses.

Sixty per cent of traders also felt the Alertbox had reduced the fear of anti-social behaviour in the pilot scheme areas.

The number of calls from members of the public to Surrey Police relating to both areas also reduced in the six months after the introduction of the Alertbox network.

Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Haycock, said: “The results of the latest survey are very encouraging and Alertbox is clearly having a positive impact for traders in Hersham.

“Alertbox was put in place to help reduce problems such as anti-social behaviour and low level crime and I’m pleased the community in Hersham are noticing the benefits of the system.

“The network is also helping to build up relationships and trust between the different businesses and the whole community in Hersham which I very much welcome.

“While the results of the survey represent a step in the right direction this does not mean we will be in any way complacent and the Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Teams will continue to work with residents and our partners across the borough to reduce crime further.”