The main shopping centre for Harold area residents has become one of only three to receive a national Safer Shopping Award.

Ian Moore, chairman of the Romford Partnership Against Retail Crime and manager of the Liberty Shopping Centre, accepted the award last week on behalf of the Romford Retail Crime Initiative.

The crime initiative is made up of Havering Council, the Metropolitan Police and businesses in Romford Town Centre, and is proactive in tackling crime in the shopping centre. Its efforts have helped slash crime.

The Safer Shopping Awards were given to Romford, Manchester and Wolverhampton by the Home Office minister, Charles Clarke, last Thursday.

Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Ray Harris, said: "This award is a tribute to the commitment and enthusiasm of all those involved in the Romford partnership Against Retail Crime. We are very proud of our success and delighted to be able to promote Romford as one of the country's first Safer Shopping centres."

Mr Moore added: "Not only has Romford's crime initiative reduced crime in the town centre, it has created a stronger working partnership between police, retailers and the shopping centre management."

The crime initiative was launched in August 1998 and has reduced crime in Romford town centre, the central shopping centre for the Harold Hill and Harold Wood areas, by 42 per cent in two years. It includes CCTV, radio communication links and offender targeting schemes.

It was also the first scheme in London to gather intelligence, target criminals and exclude persistent offenders from a town centre. Now its efforts have been officially recognised.

Chief Supt Bob Youldon, borough commander for Havering, said: "This award provides us with a firm foundation on which to support this vibrant community with a safer shopping environment.

"It's a success story which we aim to mirror across the whole of Havering."

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