JAG Communications’ Branch in Par is supplying local shop owners with 30 Orange Just Talk (Nokia 1200, Pay As You Go) Phones to use in the new Fowey Shop Watch scheme. Three of the Nokia 1200’s have been given to the scheme for free; in order to support the local authority’s efforts to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.

The scheme will act like a neighbourhood/community watch programme; designed to alert business owners of shoplifting and other antisocial issues occurring in the area.

The JAG Branch in Par is managed by Simon Austin-Rattenbury (32) and Sales Executive Chris Plowman (21). They learned about the Shop Watch scheme when Police Community Support Officer Linda Thomas visited the branch looking for mobile telephones with which to instigate the project. She had investigated various different options for how the scheme could operate, deciding finally upon a pre-installed text message system, allowing shop workers to quickly circulate important information to one another in a very short space of time.

Linda Thomas said: “I looked into using a standard ‘phone around’ system, but since a lot of the shop workers in the area work on their own, this would have been too time consuming. I also investigated the use of radios, but these would have been a bit expensive, so I’ve settled on the text message idea; and it seems to work.”

Linda will pre-programme a series of text templates into each handset, each containing short information alerts about various other acts of antisocial behaviour or criminal activity. But it doesn’t just stop at crime, Linda Thomas explained: “I can also use the shop-watch system to inform every store about descriptions of missing people and other community-related alerts.”

Simon Austin-Rattenbury said: “I think it’s a great idea -there is too much anti-social behaviour going on. When people do steal things they don’t realise the impact it can have on small businesses trying to make a living.”

There are 25 participating retail outlets in the village of Fowey, each with their own Shop Watch mobile telephone. Since some of the shops are also members of Pub Watch (those which sell alcohol) it is likely that Shop Watch and Pub Watch will combine to create a larger, even more secure network.

Linda added: “The system is helping to make all of the shop workers feel safe.”

The phones JAG have donated will be distributed to key members in the community, one will be given to the small town bus, which drives around Fowey all day and sees many visitors and locals, not only those on the bus, but also people on the streets.

One will be given to the small boat kiosk situated on the town quay by the river, the person in the kiosk can see everyone entering Fowey via the river, water taxis, ferry boats and anyone who moors up at the quay to come ashore.

The other phone will be the main Shopwatch phone, which will be used by Linda when she is working.

JAG’s MD, John George said: “I’m very happy to be helping out with the security of businesses in Fowey. It’s increasingly important for business operators to cooperate with one another to reduce antisocial behaviour and where possible, to maintain the safety; and security, of each others’ livelihoods and shop staff. Mobile phones and text messages are very effective means of circulating important information quickly and easily.”

Simon added: “From personal experience of working in a store on my own and being threatened with physical violence; I hope that this scheme will help the local shop owners feel less intimidated to call for help. I think that knowing someone will be with them very quickly if the need arises will make a significant difference.”

Background:

JAG Communications is the third-largest mobile phone retailer in the UK, with over 145 branches across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We supply the latest handsets and accessories; as well as good-value contracts on all five major networks. The company’s MD, John George, is also a pilot, airfield owner and HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship driver.

Simon Austin-Rattenbury has been working for JAG for just over four years. Before that he worked briefly for Europcar at Newquay airport, he is married and has a six-year-old son. He is interested in sport and has played cricket for both St Austell and Fowey. Chris Plowman (21) also works in the branch as a Sales Executive.