A NEW hotline has been set up for shopkeepers in the wake of the killing of Gurmail Singh.
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet this week agreed to fund the line which will allow corner shop owners to report antisocial behaviour such as verbal abuse and shoplifting.
The move comes in reaction to the death of Mr Singh, who was killed at Cowcliffe Convenience Stores in February.
Clr Mohammad Sarwar, who owns Fair Price newsagent on Newsome Road, welcomed the investment yesterday.
“It’s a good idea if it improves the security of shopkeepers,” he said.
Clr Sarwar, who represents Crosland Moor and Netherton, added that he constantly faces antisocial behaviour.
“I get abuse from kids every day,’’ he said. “They gather outside and they come in and ask for cigarettes.
“When I ask them for ID they start swearing. There are a handful of people like this in every area. It’s really sad that their parents haven’t taught them how to behave.”
The Labour man added that shoplifting was also a problem in his shop.
“Sometimes you will get people who just pick up a few bottles of alcohol and walk out,” he said. “If you haven’t seen the person before, it’s not worth reporting it to police.”
The 24-hour staffed phone line is part of a range of measures to improve security for shopkeepers which was agreed by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday. The £50,000 investment also includes extra CCTV cameras.
Police will use information from the hotline to improve their intelligence about antisocial hot spots.
Sgt John McFadzean said: “Traders have so far put up with antisocial behaviour because they did not want to waste their own time or they felt they were wasting police time.
“This new hotline will give them a chance to report such behaviour quickly and at a time which suits them.”
Neighbourhood policing teams are also visiting all small shops to talk about whether security measures can be improved and whether funding is available to help them.
The number for the new hotline is 01484 414998.
