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Fears Quays anti-crime scheme may become victim of own success

Mat Nicholson
11/ 9/2003

A CRIMEBUSTING scheme set up eight years ago to tackle some of Salford's worst crime hotspots could collapse without more support from the businesses it was designed to protect.

City bosses say 'Quaywatch' - an anti-crime partnership between Greater Manchester Police, Salford Council and businesses - has help cut crime rates at Salford Quays, Ordsall, Eccles New Road, Oldfield Road, Chapel Street and the Deva Centre.

But they add that the scheme - which aims to provide regular police patrols and a sub-four minute responses to 90 per cent of alarm calls - could become a victim of its own success with some firms no longer seeing a need to sign up.

Without more members, who each pay less than £20 per week, Quaywatch bosses fear the scheme may no longer be viable.

Now they are sending 1,500 CD-roms, featuring video clips of officers on patrols, out to local businesses in a bid to drum up more support for the scheme.

City council deputy leader Cllr David Lancaster, who has special responsibility for crime and disorder said: "When we set this up back in 1995, crime was bad in some of these areas. The problem is because crime is falling new businesses, and some existing businesses, don't see the need to become members, and this is making it difficult for the scheme to break even.

"We desperately don't want to lose this service, or have it slim down, because the patrols and rapid response really deter criminals. We really do need more people to sign up, especially those businesses who are benefiting from the patrols but aren't actually members, to ensure a successful future."

Contact Salford City Council's Bernard Burns on 07785 753767 or Peter Openshaw on 0161 793 3714.