A Christmas safety initiative is being launched in Stockport.
The first safety scheme is free bike marking. The Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP), which includes Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police, has joined bike retailers across the borough to offer the service.
Anyone purchasing a bike from a store taking part in the scheme will have their bike marked with their postcode and house number using a durable sticker. The sticker – which cannot be removed – means that their bike is traceable if stolen and therefore acts as a deterrent for thieves.
Last Christmas, over 1,000 bikes were successfully marked. The SSP hopes to mark even more bikes this year and prevent the distress caused when bikes bought as Christmas presents are stolen.
The scheme is part of a Christmas safety initiative which aims to inform Stockport residents of ways they can protect themselves and their property over the festive season. It aims to continue the eight year trend of crime reduction in Stockport by promoting messages which will help residents protect themselves and their property from crime.
Key messages include ’12 Top Tips on how to have a Safe Winter’, crime reduction information to help protect residents from vehicle crime and burglary and warnings about the risks of drinking alcohol before cooking or driving.
The messages will be communicated to people in shopping centres, car parks and colleges throughout November and December. Information will also be available via Facebook, Twitter and the internet.
For a list of bike stores taking part in the scheme or for more information visit www.saferstockport.org.uk or call 0161 474 3143, or follow the Council on Facebook or Twitter (#saferstockport)
Government confirms April rise to National Living Wage 
Handelsbanken research highlights self-assessment worries of the self-employed 
UK businesses facing higher costs for cloud services due to lack of competition