‘Shopwatch’ Goes Pro-Active In Gwynedd.

Specialist Personal Safety Trainers at North Wales Police are sharing their skills and experience with store staff members of ‘Shopwatch’ in the north Gwynedd area in order to reduce the number of ‘heated discussions’ or worse when staff confront suspected shoplifters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local Sergeant Dana Baxter at Bangor Police Station who is behind the scheme said “Whilst some of the larger stores are able to invest in training not all of it is often focused on that first step of actually confronting or challenging a suspected offender and of course that can be very daunting for some. Part of our continual training as Police Officers is all about speaking with people and doing so in a none confrontational, safe and respectful manner.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The way in which both body language and verbal communication are used can have a huge impact on the way individuals react and we are all about keeping each other and members of the public safe. We have years of experience in doing things very well but our best learning often comes from those occasions when we didn’t quite get it right and it’s these lessons too we’d like to share” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the lead up to what is traditionally seen as the busiest period for large stores and shops North Wales Police are launching this ‘Shopwatch’ backed training package for staff in Bangor and Caernarfon in time for the festive shopping season. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On 16th and 17th November Sgt Steve Eeles and Sgt Arwel Ellis who ordinarily deliver Personal Safety Training across the force addressed over 50 store staff in Bangor and advised them on a number of issues including conflict situation decision making, the most effective and safest way in which to manage individuals in potentially volatile situations, identifying warning signs as well as their rights under Common Law and Statue. The aim of the training is to empower store staff, reduce the number of potentially confrontational incidents and offences of shoplifting as well as keeping both store staff and members of the public safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Angharad Parry from USC Bangor said “We found the evening very useful as we now know what we can and can’t do if we are ever dealing with a difficult person and how to deal with different situations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ffion Chubb, Siop Menai , Bangor added “Working closely with North Wales Police has definitely brought all the shops together which is reassuring during the lead up to the busy Christmas period. The course has definitely prepared us for any conflict situations whether it be small an petty to something serious.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Baxter concluded “The initial feedback has been very positive and so it’s likely the training will be repeated. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​