TWO Ellesmere Port off-licences are joining the fight against alcohol-related crime this Easter.
The Local in Rossmore Road West and Londis in West Road will be decked out with Cheshire police's distinctive 'ArcAngel' logo as part of the scheme.
The Easter initiative has been set up to tackle issues from underage drinking to theft of booze after it was noted that problems around off licenses were getting worse.
The Local and Londis are among 27 shops across Western Cheshire which have teamed up with police for the campaign. Officers have visited the premises and put together an action plan to combat their individual problems.
Action ranges from education and high-visibility visits by police and PCSOs to design advice to make the shop less of a target to thieves.
The shops have been given ArcAngel-themed graphics to display and CAT officers - either police officers or PCSOs - will set up times when they will be inside the shop to give advice to staff and customers. These daily visits will be advertised on posters.
ArcAngel co-ordinator Sergeant Alison Wheeler of the Safer Communities.
Unit said: 'All the graphics have been delivered to shops and there has been a very positive response.
'We think that a shop which has been fully kitted-out with logos will be extremely effective.'
The idea of visiting off-licenses to offer advice was devised in Ellesmere Port by PC Graham Ramsay of the Western Licensing Team, who saw crimes in one shop drop by 90% after intervention.
ArcAngel is the brand name for Cheshire police and their partners who are bringing together all operational, educational and diversionary activity aimed at alcohol fuelled crime, behaviour and incidents.
