Call for betting shop protection

A spate of robberies at betting shops in Nottinghamshire has prompted calls for better police protection.

Fifteen bookies have been targeted over the past three months in the county, but police say they cannot monitor every outlet.

The union Community wants CCTV cameras, security doors and bandit screens to be installed at all betting shops.

Det Insp Kevin Buxton said: "We cannot put police patrols outside every bookmaker, these offences are random."

Covert security

Luke Chester, of Community, the union which represents staff at bookmakers, said: "We think there should be CCTV across all Ladbrokes shops.

"Certain shops can control entry at the front door with a buzzer - and this basic system should be installed across all shops," he said.

But Robin Hutchinson, of Ladbrokes, said: "We have put in every security available and spent more than £2m a year on security, more than any other bookmaker.

"We have put in covert and overt security features on all our shops in Nottingham."

Ladbrokes shops in Arnold and Mapperley, and Corals shops in Sneinton and Sherwood, have been robbed over the past few months. Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/4077138.stm

Published: 2005/06/09 14:49:04 GMT

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