Tadcaster Shop Watch was unveiled last Wednesday in the town by representatives from Tadcaster Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team Tadcaster Community Engagement Forum and Selby District Community Safety Partnership.
A network of radios and telephones have been linked across shops and in the town to alert shop staff to retail crime or suspicious behaviour nearby. Police officers and PCSOs will also be linked to the network via radio.
This comes after a number of thefts in the area and use of fraudulent money.
Mayor of Tadcaster, Councillor Steve Cobb, said: “This initiative is supported by local businesses, the town council and the Community Engagement Forum.
“Should there be an incident in a shop other shop owners and the police will be quickly alerted by radio.
“This super initiative from the North Yorkshire Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team will make shopkeepers and people shopping in Tadcaster stores feel a lot safer in what is already a low-crime town.”
The scheme launched last Wednesday with 33 businesses signing up and seven shop owners attending the launch.
