London is to benefit from a three-year, £15-million crime busting scheme to improve the security of local shops in deprived areas.
Funding will be channelled towards areas that fall within the 10 per cent most deprived wards of England and Wales.
Security improvements will include installation of CCTV cameras and alarms, security lighting, facelifts for rundown shopping areas and better locks.
Home Office minister John Denham, who has overall responsibility for crime reduction, said: Local shops are at the heart of our communities and when they close valuable local services are lost.
It is important that every region receives help to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour that blights shops in some of our most impoverished communities.
By driving crime out we will be encouraging more people to shop locally, helping to restore pride and prosperity to our communities.
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