TRADERS in Lockwood are stepping up their fight against crime with a Shopwatch scheme.

Thirty two-way radios will be switched on this weekend as shops and businesses tackle shoplifting and car crime in the area.

Lockwood Traders' Association has secured £4,500 from Kirklees Community Safety Partnership and Huddersfield Pride to pay for the project.

The association has been supported by Green councillor for Newsome Clr Julie Stewart-Turner.

Clr Stewart-Turner said the radios were to allow traders to support each other and share information about shoplifting and car crime.

She said the radios would also be linked to community constables based at Lockwood police station.

Each of the 30 members of the association are to be given radios and they will then alert each other to potential or actual criminal activity.

The scheme's area is from Folly Hall lights along Lockwood Road, Bridge Street, Albert Street, Swan Lane and Meltham Road.

Wilf Watson, of the Shell Garage on Lockwood Road, and Ron Cummerford, secretary of the Lockwood Traders' Association, who runs the Petfood Discount store on Albert Street, are co-ordinating the scheme and training members to use the radios.

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