Newtown's CCTV network unlikely to be switched back

18/12/2014 @ 09:53

Newtown's network of CCTV cameras in and around the town centre is unlikely to be switched back on, at least by the police or Powys County Council.

The network has been inactive for a number of years and despite the public feeling more reassured by such cameras, reality is that it does not affect crime levels, according to Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Christopher Salmon, who has been undertaking a review into CCTV through the force area.

He is holding talks to councils and other stakeholders in the area to discuss his findings.

Newtown's CCTV system was funded by Powys County Council, but the police have in in the past had access to footage from the cameras to follow up crimes and other activity.

Earlier this year Mr Salmon commissioned an independent report into CCTV to see if the police force he independently overseas should be more involved or fund such CCTV schemes as those in Newtown.

But the findings, which are being consulted on, have found that crime levels did not increase significantly after CCTV networks were switched off and there was little evidence to show that CCTV cameras in thew town centre actually deters crime.

Mr Salmon said: “This report has helped inform my planning for the future of CCTV across Dyfed-Powys. We need to make decisions based on evidence, given reduced funding.:

Report findings include:

· The removal of Powys County Council CCTV did not result in a significant rises in crime or antisocial behaviour

· There is little evidence that CCTV deters crime, in particular violent and alcohol-related incidents

· There is evidence to suggest CCTV helps investigation of crime and convictions

· There is no case to support the active monitoring of public CCTV in Dyfed-Powys

· Many existing public CCTV systems cannot produce images acceptable in court

· Councils should consider removing out-of-use cameras to ensure the public are not provided with a false sense of security

Further research from Dyfed-Powys Police records shows that, for the year to August 2014, 1.5% of case files used publicly controlled CCTV evidence and 2.2% used evidence from private systems. The police have never funded CCTV systems in Dyfed-Powys.

The Commissioner’s initial recommendations, subject to consultation from now to April, are:

· Public CCTV should remain the responsibility of local authorities, town and community councils. Mr Salmon will support them in decisions they feel right for their area. There will continue to be no funding from the Commissioner.

· For authorities and councils who wish to fund CCTV, Mr Salmon will publish a common standard for mobile systems that provide images suitable for court.

· He will cease funding for active monitoring of CCTV by April. This amounts to around £40,000 in Carmarthenshire

· The Commissioner will consult councils and businesses on the inclusion of CCTV as a requirement for pubs, clubs and other licensed premises

· Mr Salmon will keep the situation under review and consider further evidence from other areas and any technological developments such as mobile CCTV.

The CCTV report was produced by security specialists Instrom and funded by Mr Salmon.

Mr Salmon said: “We must spend every pound where it delivers. I look forward to our discussions to agree a solution for CCTV that delivers value and, most of all, is effective. This research will be an important reference point as we develop a strategy.

“In the meantime, I’m giving the public what they ask me for – more bobbies on the beat. We created 30 new police officer posts for Dyfed-Powys this year; next year there’ll be tens of thousands of extra hours on the beat thanks to new IT.”

CCTV report: http://bit.ly/1IY913b

To comment: Mail - OPCC, PO Box 99, Llangunnor, Carmarthen, SA31 2PF; email - opcc@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk. Talk on Twitter with @DPOPCC.