The Winsford 1-5 Group believes that preventive and deterrent measures are the best way to tackle crime and security on the estate. In past years the estate has been subject to significant levels of criminal activity. These levels of crime have been addressed through a co-ordinated and effective package of measures. However, these significant levels of crime are likely to return, unless a co-ordinated approach to tackling crime is maintained.

The plan proposes to deliver the following measures that will seek to prevent and reduce crime, along with ensuring that businesses are equipped to deal with crime should it occur.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Camera Systems at strategic locations throughout the estate
CCTV systems will be installed at three strategic locations on the estate. These are the two entrances onto the estate at either end of Road One, and the pathway onto the estate at the end of Road Two. All members of the Winsford 1-5 Group will be provided with access to the recordings from these CCTV cameras.

Bulk purchase of Smart Water property marking for all companies
Smart Water will provide each company with a unique marking systems, that cannot be removed from equipment, and ensures that stolen property can be traced back to its owner, criminals linked to crime scenes and prosecutions brought.

The prime aim of the Smart Water marking system will be to deter and prevent criminals from considering the industrial estate as an 'easy target'. Signs will be displayed at either entrance to the estate promoting the use of Smart Water, and every company will be provided with window stickers and other promotional items to raise awareness of the marking system. In residential areas where smart water has been deployed, its deterrent effect has managed to reduce levels of burglary from some of the highest levels in the UK to some of the lowest.

24/7 Rapid text services
The BID will contract with a company capable of providing a 24 hour rapid texting service. This service will be available to all companies on the estate to transfer information, warnings and messages to key employees within companies. Typical uses for the system will be to warn companies of crimes/incidents as and when they occur so companies can take immediate preventative measures. E.g. Companies in the past have suffered with third parties occupying their sites without permission.

The employment of dedicated estate wide security officers has been investigated as part of the plan, however the cost of re-sourcing such an initiative would more than double the cost of the current plan. When this high added cost is also considered with the fact that the majority of larger companies already have twenty four hour manned security guards in place, the idea of including such a scheme was considered to be unfeasible, because the larger companies on the estate would not be prepared to pay twice for manned security guards.