Ipswich Central has launched a new Exclusion Scheme with Suffolk Police. The objective of the scheme is to make first time offenders think twice before committing a crime and to remove persistent criminals from the town centre.

?One of the core strands for the BID is to make the town safer and more secure,? remarked Paul Clement. ?Our goal is to continue to improve safety in Ipswich and we have made considerable strides in the first eleven months. The launch of the Exclusion Order can now extend to all businesses in the BID area, not just the retail dimension. In simple terms it says to persistent offenders that, if caught, they could be banned from numerous premises in the town centre?

Speaking at the launch Paul went on to say: ?This is a good example of how the private sector can collaborate with the public sector ? in this case the Police ? to the mutual and additional benefit of everyone in the town centre. Frequent offender details will be circulated to all participants. The extension of the Exclusion order ? ?banned from one, banned from all? ? will mean that there is a stronger perception that Ipswich is a safer place to visit, spend leisure time in and to work in.?

The reality of the scheme means that once an offender is caught he or she is given a written warning from The Police and Ipswich Central. If offences reoccur, the lawbreaker is delivered an ?exclusion order? from The Police. Details of that person are then circulated to all members of the scheme and if a further offence is committed then an ASBO may result.

Inspector Matt Dee of Suffolk Police said: ?This scheme should act as a deterrent to potential offenders. The greatest tool is that persistent offenders will be excluded from numerous premises, not just where the original offence was committed.

The advisory notices served on first time offenders will illustrate the full range of establishments participating in the scheme. Therefore, recipients will be in no doubt as to the restrictions that could be imposed on them if they re-offend.

Details of prolific offenders will be passed to the police and applications for criminal anti social behaviour orders (CRASBO?s) will be considered where appropriate. Any joint initiative that can deliver the message that criminal activity will not be tolerated in our town is positive and fully supported by the police. This is another example of partners working together for a safer Ipswich.?

There are 132 radios operating on the digital Radiolink system in the town centre.