Cabinet will be discussing an upgrade to the successful Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) scheme in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill at the meeting on Wednesday 1 December and looking at putting additional cameras in areas where there are known or potential anti-social behaviour problems.
It could mean that both towns will see new digital CCTV cameras in existing and new locations. Our investment in the scheme reflects the Cabinet’s commitment to tackle crime and disorder and pockets of anti-social behaviour, in order to improve the safety and wellbeing of the community.
New locations being considered include the following. The final list will be subject to costs for installing the cameras at each site and their priority, based on the level of nuisance and crime identified by the police in that area:
Lawson Place, Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds
Stamford Court Shopping Precinct, Bury St Edmunds
Behind Chalkstone Community Centre, Haverhill
Junction of Risbygate Street/St Andrews Street North, Bury St Edmunds
Junction of Tayfen Road and Station Hill, Bury St Edmunds
Howe Road, Haverhill
Lake Avenue Shops, Bury St Edmunds
Junction of Recreation Road, Mill Road and Quaker Lane, Haverhill
Camps Road/Christmas Maltings, Haverhill
Eastgate Street, Bury St Edmunds
Surveys have shown that most people find it reassuring to know the cameras are there, helping them to feel safe when they’re out and about in their local town. CCTV has also proved to be a useful tool for preventing as well as detecting crime and disorder - around 1000 incidents a year are recorded and reported to the police as a result of the cameras.
The latest cameras can see in colour during the day, switching to monochrome when the light fades. Many cameras can rotate 360 degrees and zoom in to pick out finer details from facial features to car number plates.
Leader of the Council, Cllr John Griffiths said:
“Tackling crime and disorder is something we take very seriously and is one of this Cabinet’s primary commitments. One of the ways we are doing this is through our investment in the CCTV scheme.Suffolk is one of the safest counties in the country with relatively low crime rates and we will continue with the work to make it even safer.”
Cllr Frank Warby, Cabinet member for Housing, Health and Crime said:
“St Edmundsbury works closely with a number of organisations, including the police and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to ensure that people continue to feel safe in their communities and that we have the tools to prevent and detect criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
· The current analogue CCTV system was installed in 1995.
· Currently there are 48 cameras and three mobile cameras in total in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
· They are monitored from the control room in Bury St Edmunds. The system is staffed 24 hours a day by one operator and at peak times during late evenings and weekends there are two operators.
· The location of additional cameras will also reflect the fact that Haverhill has a smaller population and lower crime rate.
ISSUED BY MARIA STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033 email maria.staff@stedsbc.gov.uk
