LIFE for the criminal has been made more difficult in Devizes as many shops have signed up to the Storenet radio surveillance system.

Although Superdrug, Woolworths, Safeway, New Look, WH Smith, Boots, Iceland and Jag Communications celebrated the launch of the system in Devizes this week, it has been running since before Christmas, and has already proved its worth.

Julia Doel of Woolworths said: "Sometimes just the sight of the radio being used is enough to send potential thieves scurrying for the door."

The system is operated by MRS Communications Ltd using specially designed two-way radios that allow warnings about criminal activity to be relayed to all the stores in the net at the same time.

There is also a red panic button on each radio set, enabling a store to put out a warning to others, and to the police, who monitor the local network 24 hours a day.

WPC Ann Loveys of Devizes police said: "The radio receiver is on at the police station all the time. It is more of a deterrent than anything else but we welcome anything which makes our job that bit easier.

"The more stores in the town which join the network the better."

Rebekah Reeves of MRS Communications said: "It is a way of the community letting the criminals know they are not going to get away with it. The more users in an area, the more effective the network is, and the cheaper it gets. With over 20 users the price goes down."

For more information on Storenet contact MRS Communications on (029) 2022 4167.

The radio used by the police has been funded by the Kennet Community Safety Partnership, which is very keen on the Storenet system.