James Graven & Sons may be the first independent retailer in the UK to open a police station in one of his stores, but the initiative has already inspired other independents keen to forge greater ties with their local communities. Fellow Budgens retailer Deepak Patel plans to open a satellite police station in his store in Woodbridge, Suffolk, next year. The store is undergoing a £1.8m refurb and extension and Patel is keen to offer a room to the police. He hopes the base will be running by this time next year. "The police station that serves Woodbridge is outside the town so it will bring the station nearer to the community," he says. Independents should think about setting up similar schemes in their own stores if they have the space, says the Association of Convenience Stores. "Any initiative that allows retailers to work with local police will pay dividends," says Shane Brennan, ACS public affairs manager. "The police will get to know Jonathan James, MD of James Graven & Sons, and understand the concerns of his business . Sometimes the police don't understand the problems retailers face and this helps them build a relationship ." The multiples have been offering their facilities to the local police for some time. In November 2004, South Wales Police set up an office at the Sainsbury's store in Bridgend's McArthur Glen shopping complex manned by two officers and a community support officer. In January last year, Sainsbury's also entered into an agreement with the Metropolitan Police to provide bases at strategic locations in some of its London stores. The first of these was at its Pimlico store, with plans for a further 15, but there has since been no update on the scheme's progress. Asda became the latest multiple to open a police base for Avon and Somerset Police in the car park of its Bedminster store last August.

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