Published 1/10/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

A new citywide banning scheme designed to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour has been launched across Hereford city centre this week.

The initiative, named ShopWatch, has been developed by Hereford Business Improvement District (Hereford BID) in partnership with independent and national retailers alongside West Mercia Police.

Under the scheme, participating businesses can collectively ban offenders under the unified campaign message: "Banned from one, banned from all."

Those caught engaging in retail crime or anti-social behaviour face a one-year ban from all participating city centre businesses, in addition to potential criminal prosecution.

The scheme also allows images of banned individuals to be shared securely among member shops to aid identification and prevent entry.

Project Lead at Hereford BID, Ryan Dorn, emphasized that the initiative sends a clear message that retail crime will not be tolerated in the city. He said: "Anyone caught can face real consequences, including a one-year ban from participating businesses, alongside any legal action considered appropriate. We want people to ask themselves whether it is really worth it."

West Mercia Police Sergeant Duncan Reynolds welcomed the rollout, stating that the scheme provides a unified front to protect local traders. He added: "Alongside action taken by the police, which may include prosecution where appropriate, we believe ShopWatch provides a powerful additional deterrent to would-be offenders."