Traders asked how they think business crime should be fought

It comes after safety and security were named among the top priorities for town-centre traders in the recent business survey arranged by Arun district and Bognor Regis town councils.

Paul Wotherspoon, Arun District Council’s cabinet member for community development, said: “Supporting Bognor Regis town centre businesses to ensure they safeguard their goods and reduce business crime are key factors in our ongoing work to revitalise our town centres.

“By making our town centres safer, we are making them all the more attractive to both residents and visitors.

“Arun District Council, like the traders who took part in the Business Survey, is committed to keeping the local community safe.

“There’s been a lot of work done with Bognor Regis town-centre businesses over the past few months, who’ve told us what they want and feel they need to create an improved town-centre environment.

“However they now decide to move forward, we’ll be there to support them.”

Businesses are being encouraged to say whether they would prefer to volunteer their time to revive Bognor Regis’ shopwatch and pubwatch schemes, or buy into a new, Arun version of the scheme which is already running successfully in Chichester.

A survey outlining both options in detail has been sent to all current and previous members of local schemes, as well as people who expressed an interest in shopwatch in the survey.

The schemes provide traders with fast lines of communication to Sussex Police and other businesses via a radio network, as well as advice on how to prevent shoplifting and other business crimes.

The deadline for responding to the survey is midnight on Sunday. Responses can be sent to Caroline Gosford via [email protected], or 01903 737854.