Target Busting Tear for CCTV Team
| Published: 29th April 2008 14:46 |
Target Busting Tear for CCTV Team
Over 500 arrests have been made and nearly £60k worth of goods recovered in the last year thanks to Teignbridge Council's award winning CCTV team.
The figures, released today by the Council, have smashed targets for the year 2007/08. The original targets were for 360 arrests and the recovery of £12k of goods.
The Teignbridge CCTV system is designed to help ensure even safer streets, and monitors nearly 50 locations across the district from its base in Newton Abbot. Among the areas covered are Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Dawlish and Newton Abbot.
The scheme works in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and local business members of the Newton Abbot Business Security Group (NABS). This partnership work has resulted in a highly successful operation, which in July 2007 became the first CCTV operation in Devon and Cornwall to receive an official Commanders' Commendation from the Police.
Despite its outstanding performance, the partnership is a small operation, with only 48 cameras and part time monitoring. This means CCTV monitoring is a relatively low cost operation for Teignbridge and its partners, while still producing impressive results.
Cllr Anne Fry, Teignbridge Executive Member for Community Services, will be visiting the CCTV office in Newton Abbot to meet the team on Tuesday 29th April at 9.00am. Photographers are invited to attend.
Cllr Anne Fry, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Community Services said:
"These results are a fantastic boost for our team, who work extremely hard to ensure that Teignbridge stays safe and that any potential issues are dealt with swiftly.
"This well managed operation puts our customers first; working closely with our partners to ensure that we are tackling all forms of criminal activity for the benefit of local people. While crime rates are low throughout Teignbridge, when it does occur it can be extremely distressing for people, and I'm very pleased that our CCTV team are achieving such excellent results in tackling crime.
"Our staff are trained to the highest possible standards, and the protocols we follow ensure that data recorded and monitored is handled appropriately."
Good communication between everybody involved is one of the keys to the operation's success. Comprising 41 local businesses, the NABS Group is in constant contact via a radio link to other NABS members and the CCTV Monitoring room. The monitoring room is staffed by Teignbridge Council staff and a Police-employed CCTV Liaison Officer. They are able to focus their attention (and cameras) on suspicious criminal activities to which they are alerted by individual stores. The communication is two-way and when CCTV Operators spot suspicious or known offenders they have the option not only track them but also to alert local stores.
The control room is also linked via the Police airwave system to Police Officers who can be advised of incidents. This enables rapid deployment and the apprehension of offenders. Digital recording helps with the easy identification of people committing crimes. The footage can also be used for evidential purposes, assisting monitoring officers when they attend court with evidence for the case. Additionally, the ability to enable a rapid response has meant that if issues are brewing at night, early intervention often defuses the situation and prevents its development.
Inspector Ian Curson, Operations and Support Inspector, Devon and Cornwall Police said:
"By working closely with our partners we have developed the Teignbridge CCTV system into a highly successful operation which is achieving outstanding results with a minimal budget and minimal staffing levels.
"Key to the excellent performance around the arrests and recovery of goods is the enthusiasm and expertise of the CCTV operators who have built up an extensive knowledge of active criminals and their behaviour.
"What is also important to remember is the amount of crime and disorder that an effective CCTV system prevents and deters. This is not measurable, but undoubtedly it has an impact."
During 2007/08, £57,296 or goods were recovered thanks to the CCTV team and their partners. This was £47,296 above their annual target for recovery, much to the delight of local retailers.
Tom Hirst, Head of Security at Austins, and Chairman of the NABS Group said:
"By working closely with the monitoring office and Police we have been able to make a real impact on levels of crime, and it's great to see that we're making a genuine difference.
"It's encouraging to know that we're performing well in recovering goods, but the real priority is public safety and reassurance, so I'm delighted to see such a good arrest rate being achieved. This can only be done by all partnership members working together, and these arrest and recovery figures are testament to this."
Particular stand-out results for the team during the year have included:
June 2007: Footage was recorded of a disorder in
Courtenay Street, NewtonAbbot, which resulted in four men being arrested and charged. Devon & Cornwall Police are now using the footage as part of a DVD for licensing. As a result of this case Superintendent Boarland sent an official letter of thanks to the CCTV team.
October 2007: The team helped capture a number of travelling criminals from London. Over £20,000 worth of goods recovered, stolen from local shops.
November 2007: The CCTV team located and identified two men responsible for a string of daytime burglaries, recovering a large quantity of stolen jewellery. This resulted in both men being charged by Police and later imprisoned. Both CCTV Operators received an official letter of thanks from Chief Inspector Mark Moore.
