Shoplifting across St Annes town centre has fallen by 26% in just three months, as the Town Link ShopSafe Radio System delivers a fantastic early result for local businesses, shoppers and the wider community.
Launched in January 2026, the scheme connects retailers, town centre staff, Fylde Council officers and Lancashire Police in a real-time communication network. The impact has been felt almost immediately. In the very first month of operation, shoplifting incidents dropped by an extraordinary 53% compared to the same month the previous year, with that positive trend continuing across the full three-month period.
The power of the system was brought to life on one particularly busy Saturday in the scheme’s early weeks, when a flurry of incidents tested, and demonstrated exactly what partnership working can achieve. A call from Home Bargains to the neighbourhood policing team set off a chain of coordinated responses that saw a known pair arrested at the train station after committing thefts from B&M, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, with hundreds of pounds’ worth of goods recovered. At the same time, CCTV operators tracked two males who carried out a bulk theft from Boots and attempted to enter Superdrug, allowing staff to act quickly and turn them away.
Jean, Store Manager from Superdrug, one of the scheme’s participating retailers, said: “The radio link has proven to be a great tool against antisocial behaviour and shoplifting. Within the first two weeks of it going live, several shoplifters were either caught or deterred. There are many retailers asking about the radios and keen to join the link – the scheme is already making a real difference.”
The scheme was made possible through a brilliant collaboration between partners, with funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) meaning every participating business has been able to access the scheme completely free of charge during the 12-month trial.
Councillor Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing at Fylde Council, said: “This scheme is about more than crime figures. It’s about making St Annes a place where businesses can thrive, residents feel safe and everyone who visits, works or lives here can enjoy a vibrant and welcoming town centre. We’re committed to working with all our fantastic partners to ensure this scheme has a long and successful future.”
Sergeant Adam Robinson, from Fylde Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The ShopSafe Radio System is a fantastic example of how partnership working can make a real difference and we are already seeing in the results from the first three months of the trial the tangible difference this is making with a significant decrease in shoplifting in the scheme implemented areas.
“By improving communication between businesses, CCTV, and our officers, we can respond quickly to incidents, prevent crime, and create a safer environment for everyone.
“This initiative is about building confidence and ensuring St Annes remains a vibrant and welcoming town centre. We look forward to continuing to grow the project in the coming months and years ahead.”
Mike Sheppard, Business Development Manager from ShopSafe, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with Fylde Council and Lancashire Police to provide smart radios that empower fast, effective communication between those on the front line of tackling retail crime.”
Al Yusuf, LANPAC Manager, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the three‑month milestone of the ShopSafe radio scheme in Fylde. In a short space of time, the scheme has already demonstrated its value by strengthening communication between businesses and partners, helping to prevent crime and respond quickly to incidents. This early success reflects the commitment of local retailers to working together to create a safer environment for staff, customers, and the wider community, and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum.”
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “It’s fantastic to see the success of the ShopSafe Radio Scheme and the positive impact it has had during its first three months.
“This initiative builds on the work of Op Vulture, which tackles retail crime across Lancashire, and is a great example of what effective partnership working can achieve to prevent, deter and tackle crime.
“As Commissioner, I will continue to work closely with partners and invest in schemes that help make our county a safer place for everyone.”
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