Dixons hopes to cut crime at its stores

The Shop Safe scheme is being pioneered by the Metropolitan Police and Dixons Stores as a deterrent to criminals.

The Dixons Group already has special constable shop workers in four of its outlets and those stores are losing 39% less stock than the average.

A recent survey showed shoplifting costs retailers more than �2bn a year.

Dixons believes having staff trained by the police will make their stores no-go areas for criminals.

Community service

If the scheme proves successful it could spread to other parts of the country.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said on Friday: "Policing is not just the job of police forces. Everybody has a responsibility in the fight against crime.

"Special constables are the ultimate volunteers, the link between communities and their police forces.

"They will be at the place where people need them to be when they need them to be."

Employees who volunteer for Shop Watch will benefit from fully paid leave to attend a special constable training course.

Once fully trained, they will also receive additional leave to compensate them for the time spent on patrol with the special constabulary.

Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir John Stevens said: "It makes sense for business and it makes sense for the Metropolitan Police.

"It increases our uniformed presence and when these Specials are not in uniform, they will still be in the stores, with the knowledge from the briefings they have had, giving us plenty of extra eyes and ears."

The Metropolitan Police force is currently down to about 800 special constables but intends to recruit another 1,000.