A major initiative is being planned in a bid to dramatically slash retail crime in Keighley town centre.

Police, traders and Bradford Council are uniting to tackle shoplifting, purse-dipping, anti-social behaviour and drug-fuelled petty crime. And a major plank of the new scheme would be to create an ‘exclusion zone’ for the most persistent offenders.

People suspected of stealing or causing trouble in one shop could be banned from every store that has signed up to the scheme.

Other measures include extra police patrols and cracking down on the fencing of stolen goods. Proposals, currently in their early stages, aim to target hardcore offenders while also deterring those on the fringes of crime.

Measures will build on existing initiatives, such as anti-social behaviour orders, the Shoplink radio warning system and anti-drinking operations.

The proposed new scheme is being led by Keighley Town Centre Association (KTCA), which brings together businesses and public agencies, and Keighley’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT). NPT inspector Tony Reed said the amount of thefts from shops and petty crime “stood out” in local crime figures.

He added: “It’s not a victimless crime. There are small traders who can’t cover the losses or afford security staff. And people want to feel safe going into town.”

Police recorded 130 shoplifting incidents in the first three months of 2013 alone. Five people are currently subject to anti-social behaviour orders excluding them from the town centre, another six have been given final warnings and 12 have been given ‘awareness’ warnings.

Airedale Shopping Centre manager and KTCA chairman Steve Seymour said: “There are a number of key players we want to target. If we get to people on the fringes earlier, we hope we can turn them round and avoid trouble. We’re not saying you can’t come into town, we’re saying you can’t shoplift, commit a criminal act or abuse staff.”

The new scheme would also see two dedicated police officers assigned permanently to the town centre during shopping hours. They will have daily briefings with PCSOs, shop security guards and Bradford Council wardens, who already work in the town centre.

Officers will also build on close working relationships with second-hand traders, visiting daily to alert them about stolen items and to check on the activities of known offenders.