Cash for extra shop security

More than £12,000 will be injected into Shotton

Shops in some of the most deprived areas of north east Wales will be among those to benefit from a Home Office grant aimed at preventing violent attacks and vandalism.

Throughout Wales, increased security measures worth £380,971 have been paid out to help tackle crime on shopkeepers' doorsteps.

Money is also being spent in West Rhyl

Improvements will include the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV); burglar alarms; toughened glass and environmental landscaping for rundown shopping areas.

In north east Wales, Wrexham is the biggest winner.

The Darby Road Environmental scheme has been awarded £35,922.

In Denbighshire, the west Rhyl Retailers Group has received £22,341 from the scheme.

Ann Jones, Vale of Clwyd AM said the money will prove helpful for shopkeepers.

Security Improvements

CCTV

Burglar alarms

Security lighting

Locks

Shutters

"I am the first to recognise that crime is still too high and shopworkers and their customers have as much right as anyone else to feel safe.

"I hope this initiative will encourage small shops to remain open and serve the community."

She added: "In areas such as the West End there are many cash strapped small shopkeepers who cannot afford proper security or insurance."

"By making premises more secure and deterring petty criminals, this scheme will benefit both staff and the customers who depend on their local shops."

Retailers in Higher Shotton, Flintshire have also received £12,350 to improve local security.

This is the second year of the funds allocation from the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund.

Ann Jones has welcomed the grant

Edwina Hart, Welsh Assembly Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities said the money would help small retailers.

"Small local shops play a vital role in helping to sustain our local communities.

"But in some of the poorest areas they are closing because shopkeepers cannot afford proper security.

"This deprives local residents - especially those who are unable to travel - of access to a decent range of goods and services."

The government has been forced to help tackle crime in local shops after a sharp increase in the number of violent attacks on shopworkers in Great Britain last year.

Incidents included armed robberies, kidnap, CS gas attacks, pistol whipping, and the use of knives, iron bars and sledge hammers.

Figures released by employers group, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), showed that on average seven out of every 1,000 staff were subject to physical violence.

With around 2.7 million people employed in this sector, this means more than 19,250 shopworkers were attacked in 2001.