(Image: Harrogate BID)
Harrogate is set to pilot a new crime-reporting scheme to help businesses more easily report retail crime.
The programme, in partnership with North Yorkshire Police and ShopSafe, will launch on October 1 and offer businesses a direct way to report incidents through the ShopSafe app.
Paul Evans, business crime officer at Harrogate BID, said: "It was encouraging to see Harrogate businesses come together with police and industry experts to share ideas and practical ways to tackle retail crime.
"Strong relationships and timely information sharing are vital to helping businesses protect their staff, customers and premises."
The scheme builds on the success of the ShopSafe app, which already supports Pubwatch and Shopwatch schemes in the town centre.
It follows a recent retail crime event hosted by Harrogate BID and Smoke Screen, which brought together businesses and industry experts to discuss crime prevention and collaboration.
Speakers included police officers and representatives from national crime-reduction organisations.