EXCLUSIVE

Bobbies are walking the beat down grocery aisles after a supermarket was given its own police team.

Four officers from Medway have been posted full-time at Chatham's Asda store to crack down on shoplifting and vehicle crime.

The team - made up of two PCs and two PCSOs - will also help other stores in the nearby Horsted Retail Park to fight crime.

Officers are now patrolling Curry's, CarpetRight, Toys R Us, Pets at Home and Homebase in the Maidstone Road complex.

A police team has already had success in tackling crime in Chatham town centre, but this is thought to be the first time officers have specifically targeted a retail park.

The move has been met with approval from shoppers.

One man who shops at Asda and lives in Walderslade said: "I saw one of the police officers walking up and down the aiisles and wondered what he was doing.

"If there was an altercation in store, then who better to deal with it?

"Officers would have the bottle to deal with shoplifters and people who commit crime - I think they are like soldiers and are on the front line."

Insp Craig West, of Medway Police, said: "Following the success of the dedicated neighbourhood policing teams in Chatham, Gillingham and Strood we have established a team for the Horsted area.

"The officers, two PCs and two PCSOs, will have responsibility for policing the retails park as well as the supermarket in the area.

"It is hoped that their presence will prevent crime, particularly thefts, shoplifting and car crimes, from taking place and also enables them to provide crime prevention advice to the many people who visit the area.

"The team will be working closely with the stores and businesses there to ensure that their own security measures, such as CCTV cameras, are effective and that they are helping to prevent crime in and around their premises."

Police will not be receiving contribution from any of the stores.

An Asda spokesman said: "It's a relationship that works well for both parties and means that our customers are reassured that we're working together to cut crime in the area."