Councillor condemns store attack but promises security firm will be on patrol
Ollie Cowan A SOUTHPORT councillor has condemned the unknown yobs who allegedly smashed in a window of a former town centre department store – but promised that his security forces project will be in place soon enough to tackle future issues. Merseyside Police say there is not enough evidence for them to launch a criminal investigation into the suspected vandalism at the former BHS store on Chapel Street after a number of its windows were smashed in last week.
Officers from the local community team helped clean up broken glass and boarded up a broken window pane, but Southport Councillor David Barton has promised that more will be done to tackle any future incidents. It has been reported that Battle Investigations Security Firm will be patrolling the streets of the town centre in the coming weeks and months as yet there have been no confirmed sighting of any Battle operators working in the area. Cllr Barton told The Champion: It’s very disappointing for this type of activity to happen when many people are already working so hard in tandem to regenerate the town be they local businesses or stakeholders.
It truly is a question of why people feel the need to commit these acts of vandalism. My understanding is that if Battle saw anyone committing these offences they would record the evidence and give a statement to the Police to be followed up through their own channels. Battle have their core of customers which they’ve had in the town for a long time.
My negotiations with them were to assist with the collecting of evidence of reportable instances as they witnessed it whilst they were patrolling.
Evidence that they collect will be submitted directly to the relevant Police Force through their channels as I note that they operate in a number of locations.