A scheme to rid Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham of shoplifters and anti-social behaviour has been given a boost after a large chain store signed up to it.

WHSmith in the High Street, Sittingbourne, became the 120th shop to join up to the Swale Safe programme – which also includes local branches of Wetherspoon, Boots and Tesco.

The scheme sees all of those involved equipped with radio walkie-talkies, which are kept near the premise’s front counter or bar.

If a member of staff spots someone stealing or a fight starting, they can immediately radio through to operators at the Medway CCTV control centre, who can track the offender on their screens and give precise location and description information to police.

Jenny Bravery, who runs Swale Safe, said: “We are delighted WHSmith has signed up for the scheme. The radio system works really effectively with instant contact being made between retailers and the police as well as the CCTV Centre in Medway.

So far dozens of arrests have been made by police which would not have happened had it not been for [the scheme]”

Between April and October this year, 201 calls were made to the control centre using the walkie-talkie, with 22 of those calls made this month so far.