In February 2004, the Home Office, Metropolitan police, Dixons, and Woolworths launched the Shopwatch initiative, which recruits employees as special constables from the retail establishments to patrol specific retail areas.
The Shopwatch programme was piloted in the general Camden area, Regent/Oxford street and the Birmingham Bullring Palisades.
The Shopwatch programme has succeed in reducing retail crime by 50 per cent. in 2004 in participating retail stores.
The Shopwatch programme is a prime example of proactive partnership working across the community and forces