YORK'S McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is the UK's first outlet centre to scoop a Safer Business Award.

The Safer Business scheme is a Home Office initiative which aims to reduce business crime through closer partnerships with the local police and the sharing of security information with other accredited local businesses.

For several months the designer outlet, which has 115 stores, worked closely with Safer Business Award assessors to ensure that the company complied with award criteria.

That included setting up a system to allow the outlet to share security information with every store at the centre.

Ian Rudd, McArthurGlen facilities manager, said: "The security of our centre has always been a priority.

"When we investigated the requirements of the Safer Business Award, we realised that we were complying with many of them already."

Updated: 10:47 Tuesday, August 23, 2005