Crime Prevention

Safer Shopping Award
Wigan has scooped a top award – for being one of the safest town centres in the country. The Town was awarded the prestigious British Retail Consortium and Home Office "Safer Shopping Award" following the introduction of several security related initiatives, such as: the introduction of a retail crime co-ordinator, the recording of incidents, a target offenders database tracking the most persistent shoplifters, the enhancement of the radio network, additional CCTV cameras and exclusion orders being served on persistent offenders.

Wigan Retail Crime Operation is a partnership between the public and private sectors and now has more than 100 members from various businesses across the town.

Town Centre Manager Mike Matthews said: "I am so delighted to be one of a limited number of towns to achieve this award, we have shown what can be done when we work in partnership to tackle crime. It is very important that everyone with an interest in the town does their very best to make sure it is a safe place for people to both work and visit".

Town Centre Safe
Safety and security of workers and visitors in the town doesn't stop at the retail sector. The Initiative focuses on the evening economy, which has grown significantly over the last few years with new bars and clubs opening in the town. A variety of actions have been introduced which include all of the licensed premises co-ordinating safety & security via the Wigan Pub & Club Watch scheme, the formal training of door supervisors, better street lighting, pedestrianisation of King Street during peak times and the introduction of a Late Night Bus Service, these amongst many other improvements now make Wigan one of the safest towns in the region.