A Cornish seaside resort has rolled out a mass walkie-talkie scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Businesses and services have been handed more than 100 of the devices by Newquay's Business Improvement District in a bid to combat crime and disorder.
The devices are not there to "replace a 999 or a 111 call" but to make businesses "feel safer", Mark Warren, manager of Newquay BID, said.
Lfeguards, shop proprietors, publicans, CCTV operators and police officers will now be able to reach each other at haste, allowing them to monitor developing situations and let others know about potential problems.
"This could literally be someone causing a problem at the beach and heading to the high street. If anybody is being silly or dangerous, we would be aware of them rather than it being too late," Warren said.
Newquay has rolled out a mass walkie-talkie scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour
GETTYParticipants in the walkie-talkie network can communicate instantly when they spot potential issues, creating an early warning system across the town.
When troublemakers are identified in one location, alerts can be quickly circulated to other businesses and services in the area.
Charlotte Larkin, who runs The Pet Centre in Newquay, said: "It has been very helpful. Even if we see someone who is prolific we will let the shops know.
"As soon as they know they have been watched they won't try it."
She added: "I think everybody is very active in the community in general. We had a shoplifter a couple weeks ago and we posted it on the Newquay pages and within a couple of days the guy came in and paid his bill."
BELOVED BRITISH TOWNS TRANSFORMED - READ MORE:
Lfeguards, shop proprietors, publicans, CCTV operators and police officers will now be able to reach each other at haste
PAThe initiative comes as the much-loved resort town continues a 16-year crackdown on issues including shoplifting and alcohol-related problems.
The town has seen issues with underage drinking and disruptive stag parties which some warn have dampened its "family-friendly" reputation.
But over the last 15 years, Newquay has been pushing to rid itself of its "Britain's Magaluf" nickname after its council brought a "mankini ban" into force.
The Newquay Safe campaign, which prohibited inappropriate clothing and fancy dress in public spaces, came into force in 2009.
By 2012, Devon and Cornwall Police reported a 20 per cent drop in crime compared to just three years prior.
READ MORE FROM THE SOUTH WEST:
Residents now say Newquay is barely recognisable from its former 'wild west' image
GETTYAnti-social behaviour incidents plummeted from 685 to just 286 during the same period.
More than a decade on, business owners and residents now say Newquay is barely recognisable from its former "wild west" image.
"It's better now, it's calmer, there aren't as many fights," said Maddie Grover, 25, who grew up in the town.
Meanwhile, a study last summer by Go Outdoors placed Newquay as the top holiday destination in the UK, scoring 9.72 out of 10 by combining data from TripAdvisor, Office of National Statistics, Instagram, TikTok, Country Living, Booking.com and Google.
Most Read
