CCTV cameras help fight against crime (From Free Press Series)

CCTV cameras help fight against crime

THE introduction of closed-circuit television cameras in Monmouthshire has led to a marked decrease in the number of public order offences, say Gwent Police.

Abergavenny's crime reduction officer PC Andy Charles said: "The CCTV system has proved to be the tool that stops things from developing.

"Police officers arrive at an incident before the flashpoint because the camera operators alert us to a developing situation. The cameras are like having an extra eight officers on the beat."

PC Peter Tkaczyk, Abergavenny's other crime reduction officer added: "The recordings from CCTV have proved to be useful in providing us with evidence."

And he revealed that in the very early days of CCTV, when he was stationed in Caerphilly, the cameras helped him prove he did not commit a serious assault on a member of the public.

He said this year's crime figures for Abergavenny showed that public order offences and assaults had fallen by roughly 50 per cent, and much of this was attributed to CCTV.

Recently an operator alerted Abergavenny Police to three women caught on camera acting suspiciously, and when questioned they discovered the women had a stolen bank card and had just taken £300 from the owner's account.

PC Dai Arnold, CRO at Monmouth agreed that the cameras have had a positive influence on reducing crime. "We have had a 44 per cent reduction in public order offences and a drop of 28 per cent in criminal damage. There is no doubt that the two main contributory factors in the decrease have been CCTV and the determined efforts of Monmouth Pubwatch."

Chepstow's CRO PC Tony O'Connor said they were conducting a survey among traders to ask them if people felt safer with CCTV. He said he felt the cameras had improved the quality of life for Chepstow people.

Six cameras are situated in each of the four towns, and these are constantly monitored by the operators. Two work each of the three shifts, with an extra operator working in the evening. Carl Nesling is the supervising monitoring officer, and control room manager is Graham Thomas.

Graham said: "I think we have established a good working relationship with Gwent Police and the CCTV User Group.

"Together we have had some good results, including three people who were arrested in Caerphilly and were then convicted of drug dealing and jailed by the court."

Carl added: "We can put images on the monitor so people in the police control room can see. The clarity of the images is excellent and we can zoom in and identify number plates from quite a distance away."

All the recordings are then kept for 30 days, and police officers can view these on the play-back system. On the day of our visit PC Richard Rees from Monmouth Police viewed footage of an incident of criminal damage which happened on April 10 and the culprit can clearly be identified because of the clarity of the pictures.

On this occasion the CCTV operator spotted the incident developing and alerted police who arrived at the scene before the culprit had left. Just before our visit seven officers from Gwent Police had visited in the previous two days.

Mike Workman, commercial services manager, spoke about the National Assembly funded mobile van which can be used to monitor known trouble spots. He said: "A second state-of-the-art vehicle will be arriving soon and could be used for anti-social behaviour hot spots. The first vehicle has also been used a lot by dog wardens to identify people who allow their animals to foul in public places."

He revealed that when the new police radio system, known as Air Waves, comes into operation next month it will enable police officers to directly liaise with monitor centre staff.

Blackwood has been rid of so-called boy racers because of the co-operation between the police, local council and the monitoring centre. When Monmouthshire County Council bring in their legal orders banning drivers from congregating in public car parks, Abergavenny should benefit.

But in the meantime Abergavenny police have targeted those responsible for causing a nuisance to residents, and have issued 30 enforcement notices on drivers, and confiscated two of their cars.