‘Shop Watch’ snags supermarket swipe squad in Arnold crime crackdown

A police radio scheme aimed at cracking down on shoplifting has been a quiet game‑changer in Arnold, after three thieves who sprinted through supermarkets stuffing trolleys with goods were stopped mid‑heist by officers already on the scene.

Nottinghamshire Police’s Arnold neighbourhood team runs Shop Watch — a radio network linking officers directly with supermarkets, small businesses, and independent retailers. In the past two months, it’s delivered a 75% detection rate, meaning three‑quarters of reported shop thefts have ended with arrests, charges, or other police action.

On 31 May, Daianna Ionita, Gianni Ionita, and Matei Bernandi walked into Asda on Front Street posing as regular shoppers. Moments later, they were racing around the aisles, loading two large plastic bins with chocolate bars, household items, and medical products worth hundreds of pounds before heading straight for the exit.

Asda’s security team immediately radioed through to Shop Watch — and, crucially, an officer was already inside the store. The trio were detained before they even made it out of the building.

CCTV later showed the group arriving in a Ford Galaxy. When officers searched the car, they found the back seat piled high with stolen food and clothing. The investigation quickly linked the same group to near‑identical thefts at B&M Bargains in Madford Retail Park and Sainsbury’s in Arnold.

Neighbourhood officers say Shop Watch has transformed how they work with local retailers, strengthening relationships with security teams and helping them respond faster to incidents. The scheme has also contributed to a sharp drop in repeat offenders — many now serving prison sentences or simply avoiding the area altogether.

Shop Watch radios connect shops directly to the police control room and local officers, speeding up response times and enabling regular information‑sharing through partner meetings.

Daianna Ionita, 20, Gianni Ionita, 18, and Bernandi, 32, all of Chadwick Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to three counts of shop theft at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 19 June. Each received a community order of 100 hours’ unpaid work and must pay £266 in compensation.

Sergeant Alison Riley said neighbourhood officers have made “significant progress” using targeted patrols, Shop Watch radios, and Operation Retail — a process that fast‑tracks charges when evidence is clear and overwhelming.

She added that while the results are encouraging, the team is “in no way complacent” and will continue working closely with local businesses to keep retail crime down.

£100,000 secured to transform Papplewick’s QEII playground

Funding has been approved to refurbish the Papplewick QEII Playground behind the Village Hall on Linby Lane.

Children and residents are set to benefit from a major upgrade thanks to a £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.

The funding will support the full redesign and redevelopment of the much‑loved play area on the QEII playing field, a long-standing hub for local families. The refreshed playground will feature exciting new equipment for all ages—from pre‑school children to teenagers—creating a space the whole community can enjoy.

Carolyn Hesketh, Chair of Papplewick Parish Council, said the project will make a significant difference to village life.

“We believe this investment will give residents a playground they can be proud of and help breathe new life and community spirit into the heart of Papplewick for years to come.”

She added: “This project will provide a real boost for local families. We’re thrilled that FCC Communities Foundation has awarded us the funding, and we’re looking forward to seeing the new playground take shape over the coming months.”

FCC Communities Foundation is a not‑for‑profit organisation that supports community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Cheryl Raynor, Grant Manager at FCC Communities Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to support the refurbishment of the QEII Playground in Papplewick. This funding will help create a welcoming and accessible space for residents of all ages. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the new facilities will have on families in the village.”

The refurbished playground is expected to be ready for use by October 2026.

TONY CAVE: Netherfield’s 10.10 Skegness train sees rising numbers — and a few confused travellers

Local rail users have been keeping station adopter Tony Cave busy this summer, with the return of the 10.10 Skegness service bringing a mix of eager day‑trippers, confused passengers, and the occasional abandoned ticket.

Tony reports that on the very first day of the service, 17 May, four people were already waiting at Netherfield. Three boarded happily, while one intending to travel to Nottingham had missed the small print: his train required a short walk to Carlton for the 10.35 connection. “A good job I was there,” Tony notes, after steering him in the right direction.

Passenger numbers have steadily grown over the first five weeks, with 16 people joining the service on one day alone. Not all journeys have gone smoothly, however. One traveller mistakenly believed the train went to Grantham and ended up needing a taxi back to Nottingham. Tony points out he’d have been better off staying aboard until Bingham for the 11.01 connection.

The Skegness train typically runs with four coaches on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, and two on other days. Tony advises passengers to walk down the platform, as the front coaches are usually quieter — and you’ll arrive at Skegness quicker, thanks to the route avoiding Grantham.

Ticket Machine Troubles

Between 5 and 12 June, three passengers failed to collect their tickets from Netherfield’s smart machine — all singles to Radcliffe, Ruskington and Grantham. Tony now checks the machine daily, and even found an unclaimed Nottingham ticket at Carlton. In that same period, the machine was used seven times.

Carlton Station: Gardens & Buses

Tony’s long‑running work on Carlton’s flower planters continues, though he admits heavy compost bags are becoming harder to manage. Self‑setting plants and annuals now form the backbone of the displays, with watering and pruning still part of his routine.

A new poster board at Platform 1 outlines onward bus travel, including Nottingham City Transport routes 25, 26, 44 and the new 45. The suggested nine‑minute walk to Carlton Square “is a bit tight,” Tony says, noting Burton Road stops are closer. Route 45 replaces the former 24, looping through Rivendell and Burton Road before returning to Nottingham.

Brief Encounters

Parliament recently discussed future changes to passenger fares, including integrated contactless ticketing for Manchester and the West Midlands in 2026/7, with trials planned for the North and East Midlands. Meanwhile, open‑access operator Lumo has begun running services between Stirling and London Euston — meaning Carlton passengers could reach Stirling with just one change at Crewe.

Locally, Newark Book Festival returns 9–12 July, with stalls in the Town Hall colonnades and Market Place. Tony will be helping at the Dawn Book Supply stand. Early 20th‑century Midland Railway signalling diagrams remain available for viewing at DBS until the end of August.

20 Years of Station Adoption

Tony marks 20 years as station adopter this spring, having taken on Carlton in 2006 and later Netherfield. Back then, facilities were sparse: no seats, graffiti‑covered shelters, overgrown bushes, and cleaners visiting only once a fortnight. “We have come a long way since then,” he writes, though he still hopes for more platform seating and a ticket machine on Carlton’s Platform 1.

He recalls duplicating timetables for Carlton Library in the 1990s, and even running a stall on Platform 2 in 2006 with timetable leaflets and a prize draw for Lincoln tickets. A Nottingham Evening Post photographer captured the moment, featuring Tony in the Neighbourhood News section.

His memories stretch back to the 1980s and 60s — including a night when a derailment at Staythorpe forced single‑line working, and a freight locomotive was used to haul passenger coaches. “In those days the notion of cancelling a train… was unthinkable,” he quotes from an East Coast Main Line controller.

Engineering Works – July

• 11 & 18 July (Saturdays): Lincoln–Crewe trains terminate at Derby; buses replace Derby–Crewe.
• 20–24 July (Mon–Fri): The 23.00 Lincoln–Nottingham service is replaced by buses; the 22.34 Nottingham–Lincoln runs four minutes earlier.

Tony signs off with his usual reminder: information is accurate to the best of his knowledge, but passengers should always check official sources.

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