| A ‘BID’ to stop thieves on Astmoor |
 A Runcorn industrial estate is hitting back at criminals by utilising a security firm based on the site to regularly patrol the area. The purpose of the mobile patrol service on Astmoor Industrial Estate is to provide a highly visible deterrent against criminal activity - and cut crime. The patrols, provided by Druants Support Services, are funded through the Astmoor Business Improvement District (BID). The patrols are designed in such a way as to give reassurance to business owners and workers, and enable security officers to have an early indication of criminal activity. Information obtained as a result of the patrols will be immediately passed to the Police. The security officer will use a marked vehicle to conduct the patrols and will be supplied with a powerful lamp and radio. The officer will also have a mobile phone so that Astmoor businesses can pass information directly to the patrol in the event of suspicious activities or incidents. Druants will install checkpoints across the estate, which will be located in such a way as to make the patrols cover the whole estate with an emphasis on checking the vulnerable and out of sight aspects of business premises. Halton Borough Council's Executive Board Member for Regeneration, Cllr Rob Polhill, said: "A dedicated officer will be assigned to Astmoor to give a single point of contact for the businesses. "It will allow the officer to build local knowledge and give an early indication of crime trends. We hope this will make the estate a no-go area for criminals. "The provision of mobile security patrols is great news for Astmoor as the estate will have a highly visible deterrent against criminal activity provided by an Astmoor-based firm." Druants will also be providing a key holding and alarm response service to businesses on Astmoor as well as management of a CCTV system, which is all funded through the Astmoor BID and available for every business on the estate Dave Potts, Business Development Manager for Druants, said “Druants are tremendously pleased to have won the Astmoor BID contract, and being resident on the estate we have a vested interest in maintaining a crime free environment. We work to very high standards and this contract continues our commitment to the safety of those who live and work in Halton.” The development is the latest move in the success story of the estate, since businesses on Astmoor voted in favour of creating a Business Improvement District (BID). |
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