Teignmouth is to br the region’s flagship in the rollout of an online tool to combat retail crime.

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is urging businesses to sign up to the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution, which she is funding for 12 months.

Traders can use the online portal and smartphone app to report crimes and share intelligence. The tool will help police build stronger evidence files, which Commissioner Hernandez believes will increase the chances of successful prosecutions and reduce crime on the high street.

‘My goal is for Teignmouth to become the first town in Devon and Cornwall to have all businesses signed up to it, including those working within the nighttime economy,’ Commissioner Hernandez said.

Teignmouth recently made national headlines after reports that its Spratt Sands beach has the highest crime in the UK. The ‘sensationalist headlines’ were strongly refuted by the town council, local police and Commissioner Hernandez.

Having visited the resort ahead of the August Bank Holiday, Commissioner Hernandez said that the picture painted by the national media was far from the reality she experienced.

‘It instantly became apparent on my walk around that Teignmouth is a thriving, close-knit town with incredible and enviable community spirit,’ she commented. ‘Traders, residents and town representatives are strongly united to make it not just a wonderful place to visit but also to live and work.’

While visiting Teignmouth, Hernandez met with town council and local business representatives including Jo Gask, who runs The Healthy Pet Shop, and has been instrumental in encouraging Teignmouth businesses to sign up to the UKPAC initiative.

‘My overall aim is to rollout UKPAC throughout the region to ensure that all communities have access to this vital tool that can and will combat crime and make our towns and cities safer and happier places to live.