Effective crime-reducing tool launched in Burgess Hill and East Grinstead

The smartphone app, called ‘DISC’, is already used in parts of East Sussex as well as over 550 town and city centres across the UK and was also launched in Haywards Heath in March. Following its success, it has now been rolled out to retailers in Burgess Hill and East Grinstead with more areas in Sussex being offered DISC in the coming months.

The app, funded by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne is being offered to businesses free of charge. It is a secure, online information-sharing system that allows retailers who are signed up, to share news, information and intelligence, including images and the times offenders were last seen.

The app also allows users to alert one another as well as swiftly report crimes as they happen to the police.

So far, over 100 businesses have signed up to the DISC app in Burgess Hill in their bid to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour within the town. Over 75 businesses in East Grinstead are also now members of DISC.

Earlier in the week, PCC Katy Bourne visited Burgess Hill and East Grinstead (alongside police officers, PCSOs, Sussex Police Business Crime Lead Chris Neilson, business owners and local councillors) to hear how retailers such as Superdrug, Wilko’s and McDonald’s are finding the app and how it benefits their businesses.

Kirsty Pollard, manager of Market Place shopping centre in Burgess Hill told PCC Bourne that DISC is extremely valuable in enabling the community to work together.

She said: “The collaboration tool means being able to defuse problems before they come into store as opposed to picking them up once they’re here and finding out they’ve been happening down the road and round the corner. Burgess Hill will 100% benefit from DISC.”

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “I’m delighted to see DISC further expanded into Burgess Hill and East Grinstead following a successful launch in Haywards Heath last month. It’s good to see that so many businesses are signing up to the app and coming on board to help tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour in our high streets.

“The DISC app does not replace the valued police presence within our towns or on our high streets but, the quick communication features and information-sharing ability it provides, will be invaluable to both businesses and Sussex Police.

“Whether it’s theft, abuse against shop workers or anti-social behaviour inside or outside the stores, this is never acceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Cllr Whittaker Chair of the East Grinstead Town Council Public Services Committee said: “This initiative is welcomed by the Town Council and businesses as a tool to help with the fight against retail crime. Retail crime, especially for small businesses does have victims and we hope this app will encourage reporting, resourcing, and stamping it out in our area”.

A Mid Sussex District Council spokesperson said: “This is an excellent tool for local businesses to report incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime in real time and share relevant information securely with Sussex Police and neighbouring businesses.”