North Wales Police work with c-stores to prevent robberies

Armed robberies within convenience stores have dramatically increased in the months leading up to and after the festive period in recent years, according to North Wales Police.

The police force has launched Operation Blue Card, which involves local policing teams and Community Safety Teams working together across the north Wales area to raise awareness regarding store security to help prevent incidents.

North Wales Police are looking for the support of the managers and owners of the shops to help protect the safety of their staff and customers this year by stopping or at very least reducing the number of robberies.

Shops are being encouraged to move towards contactless and card payments either in the entirety or in the hours of darkness when the offences are usually committed.

Businesses across the region are being contacted by members of the Community Safety Team, and those wishing to take part will display posters at shop entrances and payment points to highlight that cashless transactions are in place.

Acting detective inspector Dean Jones of NWP’s Crime Services Division said: “Historically incidents have been in the Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire areas however the whole region will be involved with the campaign to help prevent incidents from happening. So far the feedback we’ve received from the shops that have been contacted has been extremely positive.”

He added: “Given the current Covid-19 pandemic this is an especially relevant time to take action as it will also serve to protect everyone in respect of the spread of the virus through cash transactions.”

The police force says any shop owners or managers who may be interested in taking part are encouraged to contact a member of their local Community Safety Team.