Formed by Wigan town centre management and CPD Communications (who fund it), it operates via the use of a 2-way radio system by which members alert each other when a crime-related incident is taking place, (the scheme has also been instrumental in finding vulnerable and missing persons).

The primary aim of WBBCP is to provide a coordinated approach to retail crime prevention and detection, this includes:

• Information sharing with members and partner agencies about both local and travelling offenders.
• The gathering and sharing of intelligence with similar schemes in the North West.

• An exclusion scheme prohibiting offenders from entering ‘any members premises.
• Store security assessments with training where necessary.
• The reduction of criminal losses to a retailer not just at a local level but across the entire business.