Rush to pick up top tips at advice shop

Hundreds of residents have visited a shop in a Staffordshire town centre promoting crime reduction and fire safety since it opened for business a month ago.

The Safer Chase Shop was launched on December 6 at Unit Four of High Green Court, Cannock, and since then has seen an average of 40 people a day come in to speak to representatives of organisations including police, the fire service, Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire County Council. The most popular reason to call in is to pick up free attack alarms provided by police.

Councillor John Jillings said: "A lot of people have been going in to take advantage of the giveaway of free attack alarms.

"A lot of people are concerned about crime, even though it is certainly nowhere near as bad here as in places like Birmingham.

"A lot have also been asking about the free home fire safety checks being done by the fire service."

Councillor Jillings added: "I'm happy with the response we have had. It is a fantastic centre for the people of the district to get free information as well as free attack alarms."

The shop is manned by street wardens and is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

It is likely to stay open for most of January.

It also has representatives from , Trading Standards, Crimestoppers, Staffordshire Youth Service, Community Voluntary Services, Neighbourhood Watch and Victim Support on hand to give information to people dropping in.

The unit has been offered at a peppercorn rent by Cannock businessman and developer Fred Pritchard and will have information and advice from police, the fire service and Cannock Chase Council.

The launch of the Cannock shop follows the success of the Safer Stafford Shop at Christmas 2007.