A town centre gripped by retail crimes is fighting back with a small battalion of ordinary people doing it for themselves and their futures. Despite a rise in shop theft, violence and antisocial behaviour there is now an upsurge in determination to outwit and out-manoeuvre offenders. Where once shopkeepers despaired at the lack of policing, the force is now an active part of a multi-pronged approach. Apart from its people, the Gravesend Safe and Free Environment (GSAFE) has two other weapons in its armoury. A shop radio system and an app called DISC allow users to keep tabs on the identity and…
