Latest news with #FionaMcMillan
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Businesses in Stirling urged to sign up to crime-fighting tool
Traders can view real-time information and alerts about thefts and anti-social behaviour happening in the city. Stirling retailers are being encouraged to sign up to a crime-fighting tool which features real-time alerts about offenders in a bid to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in the city centre. Business owners were invited to an intelligence briefing, hosted by Go Forth Stirling BID and Retailers Against Crime (RAC), where crime prevention experts emphasised the importance of partnership working and information sharing to enhance community vigilance and combat crime. They were introduced to the work of RAC and the not-for-profit organisation's SentrySIS device which allows users to view real-time information and alerts about thefts and other crimes happening in the city. Go Forth covers the cost of RAC membership for all BID (Business Improvement District) levy-paying members giving them access to the SentrySIS (Secure Intelligence System) platform to report crime, receive alerts about criminal activity and create evidence logs to help police detect offences. Go Forth Stirling Community Engagement and Business Improvement Officer Fiona McMillan urged more businesses to sign up for membership and help tackle the ongoing problem of retail crime. She said: 'Our partnership with RAC allows us to make the SentrySIS tool available to all our businesses and it's all about investing in the city and into community safety to help make Stirling a better place to live, work and visit. 'It's so important that businesses report what's happening to them and, through sharing intelligence and making the consequences more serious for repeat offenders, we can send a message that Stirling is not a place which is open for crime.' The briefing was the first of three meetings being hosted by RAC and the BID at the Golden Lion Hotel to support business owners and the challenges they face due to the ongoing rise in retail crime. Stephanie Karté, National Operations Manager at RAC, told the briefing how incidents of violent crime are rising annually with 1674 reported to the organisation during 2024 while overall losses to their retailer members have risen by 26%, totalling £1.85 million, in the past year. She demonstrated how retailers can use the SentrySIS tool – on a desktop or as a phone app - to find out which criminals are currently active in the Stirling area along with photographs and information about them; be alerted to the latest crime incidents and access a database with details on more than 16,000 offenders. And she highlighted major successes the system has had across Scotland where police officers have been able to identify crime patterns, link crime reports and apprehend criminals responsible for a series of offences due to retailers using SentrySIS to report crime. She said: 'With SentrySIS, we have a real-time alerts system and we are trying to bring the business community together to forewarn each other and prevent or, try to prevent, the problem of retail crime. 'If an offender is in the city targeting one store, it's likely they will be round every store in the area to try and get what they can. So, the more retailers who use the system to report crime, the more effective we can be, and the more businesses can be forewarned about potential offenders in the area. 'The system also enables us to gather evidence and reports together and provide information to give to the police to take forward.' The meeting, which was attended by two Police Scotland officers and representatives from Stirling Council, also heard from local retailers and taxi operators about the problems they are facing with theft and anti-social behaviour in the city centre. The next intelligence briefing takes place on Tuesday September 16 at 9.30am when Intelligence Co-ordinator at RAC, Natasa Wilson, will present information about the latest tricks and techniques used by shoplifters to evade security systems and show footage demonstrating how crime gangs work in teams to steal goods. Ms Karté encouraged business owners to come along to the September briefing and help build a united front when it comes to tackling crime in Stirling. She said: 'These meetings are an essential opportunity for local businesses to stay informed, connected and better equipped to tackle retail crime. 'They are key to strengthening local partnerships, enhancing prevention strategies and creating a safer trading environment in Stirling. 'And they are about more than just sharing information - they're about building a united front against crime. By working together, sharing intelligence and utilising crime prevention tools like SentrySIS effectively, we can make a real difference in reducing retail crime and protecting our communities.' Any BID levy-payers who want to try out the SentrySIS tool can request more information at any time by contacting admin@ Businesses who are not levy payers and who would like to access SentrySIS can also get in touch to discuss a voluntary BID membership. Stirling-based Retailers Against Crime is a national retail crime partnership, established in 1997, which aims to detect and prevent crime by sharing information on local and travelling offenders with members and partners throughout the UK. More information is available on their website - Go Forth Stirling is the city's BID representing more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to the city and devising initiatives to help make it a more welcoming destination for businesses and shoppers. For more information visit
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Stirling city centre streets in bloom thanks to business group's planter scheme
There are now a total of 73 planters outside businesses across various streets in the city centre - with a local garden centre helping to provide the blooming boost. Vibrant flowers and blooming planters have added a welcome splash of colour across Stirling city centre. Pollinator-friendly plants, funded and organised by Go Forth Stirling BID (Business Improvement District), can be seen brightening up the city in Station Road Square, Murray Place, Pitt Terrace, King Street, Wellgreen Road and Melville Terrace. The number of planters has been gradually increasing each year and there are now a total of 73 across the city which are regularly maintained by Stirling Community Enterprise. The planters and the city's ground-level flower beds are filled with plants and flowers from Stirling's Homesteads Nursery. William Johnston, who runs Homesteads Nursery, said: 'We've picked a lovely selection of colourful plants and flowers which look fantastic as they liven up Stirling for everyone. 'We're pleased to work with the BID each year to do our best to improve the look of the city centre.' Meanwhile one of the flower beds, in the Top of the Town, has been adopted by Stirling Baptist Church who have planted it out and are maintaining it. Fiona McMillan, Community Engagement and Business Improvement Officer at Go Forth Stirling, said: 'Ensuring Stirling looks wonderful with beautiful planters and flower beds to welcome visitors and residents is an important part of our remit to make the city a more inviting destination for shoppers and business owners. 'The floral arrangements help give the city centre a vibrant appearance and feature pollinator-friendly native species which promote biodiversity.' The Go Forth team have also been busy spearheading a drive to clean up the city's streets through a series of 'Friends of the BID Spring Clean' litter-picking sessions over the last few months. The initiative, designed to inspire pride in Stirling, saw BID Street Ambassadors Gail Lamb and Josie Brown, Stirling Council archaeologist Murray Cook and volunteers from the city's business and residential communities join forces to pick up litter and remove graffiti. They are now continuing the clean-up drive by hosting monthly maintenance days where volunteers can join the BID team to improve Stirling's environment. And they will have some extra help with their efforts thanks to the donation of equipment for removing stickers and graffiti from the Wickes Community Programme which supports local initiatives aimed at maintaining and renovating community areas. Ms McMillan said: 'We're so pleased to have this support from the Wickes Community Programme. Having the right gear for city centre maintenance, especially tricky tasks like graffiti and sticker removal, makes the job so much more impactful. 'It's great to kit our volunteers out properly and we thank Wickes for helping us to keep Stirling gleaming!' She also encouraged anyone interested in lending a hand to come along to the next Maintenance Day which takes place on Wednesday June 25 from 10am until noon. She said: 'Anyone who would like to help is more than welcome to join our efforts to make a visible difference to the city centre. Collectively, we can do so much more to make our beautiful city a welcoming place for everyone.'
