POLICE have praised Winchester businesses for their help reducing crime across the city.

Inspector Julie Young said schemes like Pubwatch and Shopwatch were valuable aids to the constabulary.

Both projects involve shop owners, bar staff and doormen talking across the city via radios, informing each other and police of any potential problem customers or crimes.

At the AGM of Winchester Business Improvement District last week Insp Young said: “Pubwatch and Shopwatch are tools for us in policing the city and enable us to develop a robust approach to driving down crime and disorder.

“I’m really excited to see what can be achieved by working together as one team. We have achieved a lot together and that can only increase as we work together over the years.”

She also praised Winchester Street Pastors programme, funded by police and the BID, which patrols the streets at weekends to help anyone drunk or vulnerable.

Insp Young added these projects had helped significantly reduce violent crime in Winchester over the past nine months.

Winchester BID also funds three police community support officers for the city centre.