YORK has received a national award for being a safe shopping city, after a scheme was launched to "name and shame" serial shoplifters.

The city's most prolific thieves were exposed by police and banned from more than 200 stores, after Retailers Against Crime In York (RACY) launched a shop exclusion scheme in a bid to cut theft and deception offences.

RACY has now launched a database of all "active intelligence" about all retail crime in the city. It enables police to predict crime patterns, so they can warn shopkeepers and store detectives about what to look out for.

York has been awarded the Safer Business Award by the Home Office and British Retail Consortium's "Action Against Business Crime" team, as a result of RACY's work.

Sergeant Rick Ball, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "RACY has had a significant impact on retail crime in particular. The exclusion scheme is still working, is still effective and I believe it is responsible for a substantial drop in shoplifting in the city.

"This is true team work between retailers, the police and the city council to crack down on crime against businesses - such as theft from shops and antisocial behaviour against shop staff and shoppers alike."

He said plans for the future included sharing information with police in Leeds and Hull to crack down on people coming into the city from other areas to commit crime.

Convicted thieves targeted by the exclusion scheme are banned from more than 230 RACY businesses across York, and all RACY members receive intelligence bulletins with photographs of convicted shoplifters so they know who to look out for.

RACY manager Michelle Sutcliffe said members could also join the RACY radio network, which provide up-to-the-minute information about what was happening right across the city to shops and police officers.

Diana Golding, manager of the Coppergate Shopping Centre, said: "I am delighted that York has been awarded the Safer Business Award which recognises the fantastic work done by all RACY's members and associates in making York a safer place to visit or do business in. "

Steve Booth, regional crime manager for AABC, said: "This award reflects the outstanding achievement by RACY, who have demonstrated that partnership working can and does make York a safer place to work, live in and visit."

Ian Thompson, managing director of Barnitts, said: "We have seen a decrease in shoplifting, but an increase in price-swapping, which customers don't realise is also a criminal offence.

" There isn't a one-size-fits-all shoplifter. They are just as likely to be vicars or high ranking bank officials as they are hoodie-wearing teenagers."

One city centre shopkeeper said: "I don't need a scheme to help me. I can take care of shoplifters myself.

"When I see them nick something, my adrenaline goes, and I tackle them as they go out the door."

Catherine Sevigny and Kate Lalor asked shopkeepers if they thought the scheme had been effective in tackling crime.

Tanya Beane, 31, manager of Silverado, in Shambles, said: "There has been a reduction in shoplifting, especially the loiterers who used to congregate on Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate."

Anthony Marshall, 25, of Festival Of Fun, in Goodramgate, said: "We left RACY as it wasn't worth the expense for us. The cost of subscription exceeded the cost of any stolen merchandise."

Nabil Homsi, 37, owner of the Travelling Man, in Goodramgate, said: "I own a few branches around the country and I can tell you that York isn't as bad as Bristol or Manchester."

Sian Dowson, 21, of Shared Earth, in Minster Gates, said: "The RACY booklets with photos of known thieves are distributed monthly and really help us keep an eye on shoplifting."

Updated: 10:07 Tuesday, March 28, 2006