BUSINESS owners hope to take the lead in dealing with anti-social behaviour in the city's streets after the launch of the Launceston Retail Partnership.
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Officially launched on Friday morning by Cityprom, 40 businesses are expected to be the first to sign up to ban those caught stealing, not only from their shop but businesses of other members.
It follows months of increased theft and break-ins in the central business district and outer shopping areas.
The partnership, which has the support of Tasmania Police, the Launceston City Council, state politicians and community groups, will see participating businesses display a sticker in their shop windows.
The sticker will also denote they are a Safe Haven for anyone who is feeling unsafe or intimidated on the street.
Cityprom chief executive Vanessa Cahoon said the partnership stemmed from a business forum on how to address anti-social behaviour held in April.
"The message behind what we're trying to do is to really take a stance and let people know that as a community we want to work together and we don't want to tolerate these behaviours and that we'll work to do everything we can to try and minimise the impact," Ms Cahoon said.
Quadrant Mall and Kings Meadows Telstra licensee Andrew Doyle, who also sits on the initiative's steering committee, said the idea to ban offenders was based on a model rolled out in London with some success.
Mr Doyle said the Telstra store had a massive issue with shoplifters and had also been broken into twice this year, which led him to spend $20,000 on electronic shutters that come down each night.
He said it wasn't about moving the problem elsewhere, it was about trying to address the issues and making people feel safe in town.
Northern District Commander Brett Smith said the strategies behind the partnership had been developed by the business group and police would "provide the necessary support to deter those intending to commit crime and apprehend those that have committed crime".
Shop Distributive Allied Employees Association state president Paul Griffin welcomed the partnership as their members were often at the frontline of any such anti-social behaviour.