New mobile CCTV unit hits the streets

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Council unveils its latest weapon in the fight against crime

The unit, which is bristling with hi-tech equipment will be used by the local police to gather evidence and conduct surveillance in crime hot spots.

The council’s network of cameras are regularly used by police to gather evidence in a range of cases. They have also been proactively deployed to assist in investigations ranging from rape and murder to drugs offences, fraud, stolen vehicles and firearms incidents.

Senior police officers in the borough have said that the council’s CCTV network provides evidence in around half of the cases that they bring to court.

The new mobile unit (seen here with Cllr Cousins and Supt Sutton), which cost more than £50,000 to equip and put on the road, has its own CCTV camera and can monitor as many as four others simultaneously.

It can hook up to the live feeds from any other camera in the borough and is linked by radio to local police response units and also to the council's CCTV and emergency response centre.

As well as gathering evidence, the unit, which will be staffed by police officers, will also be used to provide a visible police presence to reassure local residents that neighbourhoods experiencing crime and anti-social behaviour are being monitored.

The new unit is the latest addition to the council's boroughwide CCTV network which now boasts more than 1,000 cameras. There are 680 cameras on local housing estates and others in every ward, commercial centre and transport hub in Wandsworth.

The cameras are constantly monitored by staff in the council's CCTV control room, which is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Local police have an over-ride facility which means they can instantly take control of any of these cameras any time they wish.

Executive member for regeneration and community safety Cllr James Cousins (on the left of the picture) said: "This hi-tech unit will give the police a much greater ability to focus very closely on areas that may be causing them temporary or intermittent concern.

"It can also be deployed to very precise locations to help combat the kind of quality of life issues that might not warrant a permanent camera. And it gives officers much greater scope for proactive work.

"The presence of these mobile cameras will also play an important role in nipping problems in the bud - before they develop into something more serious."

Supt Clive Sutton of Wandsworth Police added: "This CCTV unit will be an effective tool in our long-term mission to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour.  Our close contact with the community and feedback from Safer Neighbourhoods meetings revealed the public view anti-social behaviour as a serious concern and we are working with our partners to tackle that.

"CCTV plays a vital role in fighting crime and the van will be used all over the borough to develop evidence on those who break the law."

 

 

August 17, 2007