Crime-busting walkie-talkies could be used to combat crooks and troublemakers in Braintree.

The hi-tech radios are being hailed as the way ahead in the fight against shoplifters and town centre crime.

But crime-prevention officer Geoff Butler says he needs shopkeepers to back the scheme for it to work.

He admitted the current cascade system - where traders alert each other about suspects by phone - had broken down.

He said: "The bottom line is it doesn't work. It's only as strong as its weakest link and if a shop is busy and they don't have time to contact the next person in the chain, it breaks down.

"We've persisted with it but I don't think we've had any real successes."

However, a two-way radio message would instantly alert every store taking part in the scheme.

Mr Butler said a similar radio link-up in Sudbury had been very successful. Store detectives can follow suspects and relay their movements direct to the police, and pubs can alert each other if troublemakers are heading in their direction.

It costs around £300 a year to join, but Mr Butler said it will be money well spent.

"Most stores admit they lose a fair amount to shoplifters every year, but if we get a scheme that deters criminals from coming into Braintree then it will pay for itself."

He is now looking for enough traders to come on board so they can launch the system as soon as possible.

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