Criminals are being warned to stay away from Kendal after it received a national award in recognition of crime prevention and reduction measures in the town.

After 12 months of hard work from all those involved, Kendal became one of only 200 towns nationwide to receive the Safe Business Award. It means Kendal is a safe place to shop, to live and to work.

The Kendal Business Against Crime Partnership involving the police, local authorities, Kendal Town Council and retailers, has been running for a year and has pulled together all the town's various crime prevention measures.

Measures to combat crime in the town include a retail exclusion zone, shopwatch, the town's CCTV system and barwatch for the pubs and clubs.

One of the most useful tools is the Apex radio system that allows retailers and the police to keep in contact and warn each other of people acting suspiciously.

Since the scheme has been in place, the town centre has seen a reduction in crime. Anti-social and rowdy behaviour has dropped by 24 per cent while major crime, including burglary and theft, has dropped by eight per cent.

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