A CRACKDOWN on shoplifting and crime in a town centre has resulted in 60 people being searched and seven people charged with a variety of offences.

In the two-week run-up to the launch of Darlington’s Shopwatch scheme, which began in the town on Monday, police and businesses worked together to prove how effective the operation could be.

The aim of Operation Muese is to reduce burglary, car crime and thefts throughout Darlington.

Prior to the launch, 60 people who were acting suspiciously were stopped and searched, nine arrests were made and seven people were charged with offences including attempted robbery, attempting to steal a motor vehicle, carrying an offensive weapon, shoplifting, criminal damage and going equipped to steal.

Shopwatch provides a radio link between shops, and closer working between the police and the town centre CCTV system.

Participating retailers alert one another to known shoplifters, who are identified from photographs issued to retailers by the police.

The CCTV team, based at the town hall, are also able to track suspicious individuals’ movements, then alert shopkeepers and the police. This helps to prevent crimes from occurring.

Officers in plain clothes, from the neighbourhood policing team, the offender management unit, the CID, the road policing unit and the drugs dog, have been patrolling the town centre, stopping and searching people if necessary.

Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, Bill Dixon, who is also a member of Durham Police Authority, said: “We need to continue to work together to stop all crime in the town.

“If you have any information which may help the police to reduce crime please get in touch.”

Inspector Steve Steen, of Darlington police said: “The operations have been a success due to the close working of Shopw atch members and the police.

“They are not just one-off initiatives and we intend to continue targeting criminals in the town.

“By concentrating on these people we are letting them know there is no safe place to hide and, we catch them when they least expect it.”