Ealing BID has been involved with Storenet since 2005, when we first partnered with MRS Communications and delivered Ealing Broadway’s - first two way communication system linking businesses, the Police and CCTV Operators to help reduce shoplifting and Anti Social Behaviour, as well as sharing intelligence and having a point of contact to inform other retailers of incidents that are occurring live in their premises.
Storenet / Nitenet Radio Scheme
Over the years our Storenet system has led to greater intelligence being passed between businesses and has created a partnership and a platform for businesses to raise concerns and use the radio to prevent, deter and catch offenders. We currently have over 50 businesses using the system and this mix ranges from independents to large scale retail businesses. All of our users will agree that the radio link has formed part of their solution to help prevent all types of incidents occurring in their businesses and from the results the radio has driven it. This has resulted in businesses obtaining additional security measures such as permanent guards, more cameras and in one case the implementation of repairing the security barriers.
The Police and CCTV have used the radio to alert users of all types of incidents, whether this be from lost children to putting up a description of a violent offender who is in the area or a car that they need to be on the lookout for; all of these items have been communicated via the radio.
Businesses have advised the BID that they have used the radio to be part of their retail set up and it is often built in to their shrink programmes as part of their strategy in reducing loss.
'A valuable tool within the nighttime economy to share information with other licensees.'
Manager. EDWARDS
'Baby e feels that the Storenet cost is well worth the money as the staff feel safer as a result.
We have been able to use it on a number of occasions for crime prevention, anti-social behaviour and information sharing.'
Elizabeth Pilgrim. BABY e
MRS provide free on site training which is given to all radio users on a regular basis to assist with the fast turnover within the retail industry - all radios that are rented are maintained and serviced by MRS, Ealing BID team members are on site to deal with any other issues as part of our active relationship with our businesses.
We hope that the radios have formed a key part in the fight to protect businesses assets and stock as well as the safety of staff and customers.
In the current economic climate we foresee more and more businesses using current systems in place to reduce incidents around them. As we pre- empt this we've launched another pivotal way that businesses can communicate and that’s through our business forum, where businesses can post current issues and concerns as well as details of theft trends that have occurred in the area. This is maintained in a secure environment and only accessed by others who with a username and password can respond back, this is also a key example of how the police can share their intelligence and information in a sensitive manner with our users.
Ealing BID hopes you enjoy using our new forum - if you don't already subscribe to the Storenet system then to start doing so it costs only £9.00 + VAT per radio, per week and will assist you in protecting your business, staff and customers and you'll have access to our free forum as well.
