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CCTV 'invaluable' in fight against crime
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| INVALUABLE CCTV: It's helping us prevent and solve crimes, insists Insp Pete Meteau of Weymouth Police |
POLICE and council officials have jumped to the defence of CCTV cameras.
Figures obtained by the Dorset Echo show the surveillance team run by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council helped police attend 362 incidents in the first three months of this year.
Police chiefs in London have claimed CCTV images have failed to have a significant impact in preventing crime but head of Weymouth and Portland police Inspector Pete Meteau said it is invaluable.
He said: "It helps us stop trouble early on especially in the policing of the night time economy.
"CCTV looks at other areas to help us prevent trouble and afterwards it is an invaluable tool in helping us arrest and identify offenders."
Inspector Meteau said Weymouth Police's sanction detection rate, the percentage of crimes for which someone is charged, summonsed, receives a caution or other formal sanction is helped by CCTV.
He added: "It is around 60 per cent which is extremely high and CCTV is one of the reasons for that."
Historically, half of the incidents logged by the CCTV operatives result in arrest and last year 1,873 were logged in Weymouth alone.
Grant Armfield, the council's safety manager, said the cameras have helped police deploy their resources effectively.
He said: "I think Weymouth is a much improved place with CCTV and the whole street scene is managed much better.
"Early intervention is key so having information on what is going on in the street and getting police the information quickly is key."
The CCTV operation began in June 2001 and now costs £366,575 per year.
There are 104 cameras spread across Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport with their footage stored for 28 days before automatic deletion.
The CCTV team in Weymouth consists of two teams of six operatives with two data reviewers who respond to requests from police to check footage.
Incidents logged in Weymouth range from otters and deer spotted in the town centre to criminal damage, domestic offences and public order/anti-social offences, which are the most regular.
Spokesman for public safety and health, Coun Tim Munro said radio links from shops, pubs and clubs help CCTV operations.
He said: "CCTV has a huge social benefit to Weymouth as well as managing crime.
"It helps with lost children, rubbish being dumped, accidents and importantly for the Olympics it helps with traffic."
9:45am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 8:30pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote]now costs £366,575 per year.[/quote] [quote]The CCTV team in Weymouth consists of two teams of six operatives with two data reviewers[/quote] 2 teams of 6 + 2 reviewers = 14 people.
Assuming the capital expenditure of the 104 cameras and associated equipment has already been funded, the annual cost of £366,575 divided by 14 people = £26,184 per person.
Is this the going rate for watching TV?
now costs £366,575 per year.
The CCTV team in Weymouth consists of two teams of six operatives with two data reviewers
2 teams of 6 + 2 reviewers = 14 people.
Assuming the capital expenditure of the 104 cameras and associated equipment has already been funded, the annual cost of £366,575 divided by 14 people = £26,184 per person.
Is this the going rate for watching TV?
Posted by: flaneur on 11:21pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote]Police chiefs in London have claimed CCTV images have failed to have a significant impact in preventing crime but head of Weymouth and Portland police Inspector Pete Meteau said it is invaluable.[/quote] Insp. Meteau goes on to point out the number of crimes and misdemeanours that he says are regularly filmed by CCTV and those where CCTV was used in the apprehension and charging of suspects.
Whilst this doesn’t show that there has been no significant reduction in offences committed it does leave the reader wondering why, if CCTV has had a significant impact on crime prevention in Weymouth, there continues to be such a large number of disturbances (1,873 logged last year) being recorded.
If Insp Meteau could demonstrate a n actual impact by CCTV on the prevention crime surely he would have been only too happy for the opportunity to refute the London findings, instead he offers the consolation prize, a 60% sanction detection rate on the offences committed.
Police chiefs in London have claimed CCTV images have failed to have a significant impact in preventing crime but head of Weymouth and Portland police Inspector Pete Meteau said it is invaluable.
Insp. Meteau goes on to point out the number of crimes and misdemeanours that he says are regularly filmed by CCTV and those where CCTV was used in the apprehension and charging of suspects.
Whilst this doesn’t show that there has been no significant reduction in offences committed it does leave the reader wondering why, if CCTV has had a significant impact on crime prevention in Weymouth, there continues to be such a large number of disturbances (1,873 logged last year) being recorded.
If Insp Meteau could demonstrate a n actual impact by CCTV on the prevention crime surely he would have been only too happy for the opportunity to refute the London findings, instead he offers the consolation prize, a 60% sanction detection rate on the offences committed.
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 7:16am Sat 10 May 08
[bold][quote]importantly for the Olympics it helps with traffic[/quote][/bold] Did I miss something? when were these Olympics that [bold]were[/bold] helped by CCTV. Perhaps Coun Tim Munro is guilty of wishful thinking because it has not yet been proven that CCTV will help with the 'expected' increase of traffic during the 2 weeks of the Olympics together with the increase of traffic due to the proposed Pavilion site makeover.
importantly for the Olympics it helps with traffic
Did I miss something? when were these Olympics that
were helped by CCTV. Perhaps Coun Tim Munro is guilty of wishful thinking because it has not yet been proven that CCTV will help with the 'expected' increase of traffic during the 2 weeks of the Olympics together with the increase of traffic due to the proposed Pavilion site makeover.
Posted by: anneofportland, Portland on 8:49pm Sun 11 May 08
Dare anybody ask why there are no cctv cameras on Portland? There was 1 in Easton Square but it was not linked to the system for some reason. Should we pay lower rates on the island by deducting this exclusive service for Weymouth?
Dare anybody ask why there are no cctv cameras on Portland? There was 1 in Easton Square but it was not linked to the system for some reason. Should we pay lower rates on the island by deducting this exclusive service for Weymouth?
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