Private security officers hired to patrol town

New private community safety officers will patrol the streets of a town to help improve safety and "create a more welcoming environment".

A new pilot scheme by Cheltenham's Business Improvement District (BID) will see two officers, provided by security firm Primeguard UK, walk the town centre during busy periods from Friday to Sunday.

During the three-month trial, BID said the officers would be "a visible and reassuring presence" and would "identify concerns, address issues and improve communication around safety".

Jenny Clingan, director of Farmhouse Deli on the High Street, said her shop has had a lot of trouble with shoplifting; she said the scheme would be a "massive help".

Cheltenham BID said the officers will operate between 16:00 and 04:00 on Fridays, 12:00 to 04:00 on Saturdays and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sundays, the times when businesses are most impacted by anti-social behaviour and other safety concerns.

It said it had funded the pilot through the annual BID levy that eligible businesses have to pay.

Clingan said extra officers were something she had been "asking for, for quite a while".

She said she was "really pleased" about the new scheme as the problem with shoplifting was "getting too much".

"We've had to take some of our higher-priced products off the open shelves and just keep them behind the counter because they were getting stolen," she said.

"So it's affected our sales because, with them not being out on display like that, we're not selling as many."

Sophie Cleary, who works at Vinegar Hill on the Promenade, said she also thinks the scheme is a good idea, particularly during busy periods such as Cheltenham Race Week, when she said she sees "lots of drunk men" while trying to close the store.

Martyn Gliddon, head of operations at Cheltenham BID, said they want the officers to become "trusted, familiar faces".

"It's about being visible, approachable and working with businesses to help make Cheltenham a safer and more welcoming place for everyone," he said.

The organisation said it will assess the scheme's impact through business engagement, incident reporting, feedback and evidence gathered by the officers, before deciding whether it has a longer-term future.

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