NEW CCTV CAMERAS IN CITY
July 22 2005
Gloucester’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) have recently purchased four mobile CCTV cameras to help keep residents safe in the city.
One of the cameras has been used in the Gloucester South Inspector Neighbourhood Area (INA) and Inspector Richard Burge, who is responsible for policing the INA, has already used the camera in two locations around Quedgeley and Tuffley, and is already moving on to a third.
On both occasions the camera’s presence has had a positive effect. Both areas were local hot spot areas for anti-social behaviour.
Installing the cameras has helped reduce the problems with the number of calls received almost dropping to zero. This has also brought positive feedback from those residents and businesses that were affected by the problems.
The cameras are easily moved to different sites in the city and are mounted on lampposts. As well as the images being recorded, the cameras have the capability to be monitored live and the images are of a sufficient quality to be used as evidence in court.
To assist even further, Quedgeley Parish Council purchased a second CCTV camera for the area with similar results.
Inspector Burge said: “From recent experience there has been no displacement of the problems but we are keeping a careful watch on the situation. The statistics indicate that to date, the problem has not returned when the cameras are removed.”
Chair of the CDRP Cllr Bill Crowther added: “We are delighted that the Partnership funding received from the Home Office has been used so successfully.
“The CDRP are committed to reducing anti social behaviour and believe that the residents of Gloucester deserve to be able to live their lives without the harassment and distress that anti social behaviour can cause.”
Similarly, arrests have been made in other parts of the city where offenders have been identified by images from the mobile cameras.
The CDRP funding has purchased four mobile CCTV cameras - one for each Inspector Neighbourhood Area in Gloucester. These are Gloucester City, Gloucester South, Barton Street and Hucclecote.