York businesses told to buy own anti-crime CCTV (From York Press)

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York businesses told to buy own anti-crime CCTV

10:23am Monday 6th September 2010 in News Photograph of the Author By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

BUSINESSES in York which want more CCTV protection are being told they will have to find the money for it themselves.

City of York Council is to take a new stance on the city’s network of cameras after officers warned providing more of the devices through the authority’s coffers would stretch budgets too far.

A report going before the authority’s executive tomorrow has identified “serious issues” about how the system can be funded and operated in the future, saying its success in combating crime and antisocial behaviour has sparked growing demand for its expansion.

The council has more than 70 cameras across the city and trials of digital “internet protocol” systems, which use wireless services such as 3G and could offer cheaper alternatives in certain locations, are now under way.

It also plans to switch from analogue to digital fibre-optic lines next year to save money, but the report by the council’s transport systems manager, Darren Capes, and transport systems technician Christian Wood says that while CCTV systems can be included within major road schemes, organisations wanting to see them elsewhere need to find the funding first.

“Due to the system’s success in dealing with crime and disorder, and acting as a tool for managing the city’s transport network, there is constant pressure to expand the system,” said the officers.

“While in principle there is no problem with this, there are issues around staffing levels and ongoing revenue commitment which need to be addressed. Where new cameras are required for non-highway-related purposes, it falls onto the party promoting their provision to provide funding.

“The issue which is less well understood by parties promoting the expansion of CCTV coverage is the need to provide ongoing revenue support for each camera. Fixed line fibre-optic cameras require between £2,000 and £5,000 per annum to cover costs.”

The executive has been recommended to approve a formal policy for the CCTV system, which will require organisations seeking more cameras to outline how they will pay for them.

Why no cameras?

A COUNCILLOR is to investigate why her ward has no CCTV coverage, despite the area being hit by a string of violent incidents.

Coun Sonja Crisp, who represents Holgate, plans to delve into crime statistics for the area to see if a drive to install cameras, which can be funded by ward committees, should be launched.

“There are CCTV cameras across much of Guildhall, Micklegate and Fishergate, but none in our ward and only two in Westfield, both of which have experienced serious incidents,” she said.

“There are a number of areas which we, as ward councillors, feel would benefit from having cameras to improve safety for residents. The bridge from Railway Terrace to Cinder Lane is one, following a robbery there, while a recent knife robbery in Jubilee Terrace has indicated further cameras could be needed.”

Comments(18)

Ignatius Lumpopo says...
10:43am Mon 6 Sep 10

What "success in dealing with crime and disorder"? Even if the system monitors crime and disorder, it takes people - the police - to respond to it effectively and, from out here in the real world, there's still too much evidence of crime and disorder NOT being successfully dealt with.