Consett Cameras Centralised
Consett is protected by an extremely complex network of security cameras which allow the Police to review footage to help ensure that people doing wrong get caught in the act. Many people despise the fact that nowadays everything we do seems to be recorded on CCTV.
Durham County Council (DCC) is planning to move Consett’s CCTV to a centralised location at the opposite end of County Durham. The plan is to move all camera control from Consett to a location in Chilton. In this current state of austerity around the country, the move seems like a sensible way to save government money with an estimated £330,000 being saved by centralising operations to the Chilton site.
Councillor Lucy Hovvels, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for safer and healthier communities, said: “This review will enable us to provide a better value, more effective CCTV monitoring system.
“While we will continue to monitor operationally important cameras, such as those in town centres and public space, these changes will give us access to an increased number of re-deployable cameras that we can use to better target areas of high crime and anti-social behaviour.”
The coalition government has enforced spending cuts around all regions and this seems like a sensible way to save money. But what sort of effect will this have on the law
Police will have to make a 42-mile round trip to get to the Chilton base of operations from Consett police station to get the relevant tapes and information which may be needed to solve criminal activity across the
Derwentside area. This will increase local police spending due to the extra miles needed to be covered in police cars to review footage.enforcement in the area? Inspector Dave Turner of Consett Police said: “The whole criminal justice system today revolves around CCTV and I hope there will be no reduction in the existing service if it is centralised.”
With Durham County Council easing their own spending this may put extra pressure of the finances of the already struggling police service. With fewer police officers than ever before on the streets of the UK, any extra costs will only hinder their ability to do the job at hand. CCTV operators in Consett have local knowledge and this allows them to quickly analyse any situation they see in the correct manner. This may be lacking once the move to Chilton goes ahead.
What do you think about the CCTV situation in Consett? Will you still feel safe knowing that the people on the other side of the lens have little knowledge of the local area or the usual suspects? Contact us at consettmagazine.com and have your say on this issue.
This is outrageous. How can I feel safe now, I find it hard enough to go outside as it is. Please, I beg of you keep the cameras here, if not for the money then for me
I can see why they are moving it. It will save the council money in these hard times of austerity.