A council officer reassures the local residents “need have no fear that Big Brother is watching them” and the latest CCTV expansion in Oveston is only to boost community safety.
Ten high-resolution cameras are set to be installed in Gradham town on Friday in a bid to clamp down anti-social behaviour, increasing violence and rowdyism.
Neal Simmonds, Oveston Council's CCTV controller, said: “The resident of Gradham need have no fear that Big Brother is watching them and there will be no intrusion into their private lives.”
Andrew Slator, chairman of Gradham Chamber of Trade, said: “We have been plagued by young hoodies and gangs of shoplifters and we hope the cameras will help deter and detect the culprits.”
The system will be used in conjunction with the police and help alert control room staff to shoplifters or anti-social behaviour, triggering an immediate response from the council's patrollers and policing team.
The cameras can make sure lone females' safety at night by enabling staff in the control rooms to oversee their walk on the street.
It also enables operators to spot accidents and arrange a necessary action when seeing someone has been taken ill and collapsed.
Chief Superintendent Francis Collison of the Oveston Police, said: “Throughout the district about 90 arrests are being made every month using CCTV. We expect the rate of arrest in Gradham town centre to go up as a result of the new cameras – so troublemakers, drug dealers and criminals should be warned.”
Doug Elmsall, chairman of Gradham Licensed Victuallers' Association, said: “Landlords and club owners have been struggling in the face of growing public order problems and we need all the help we can get. Let's hope those willing to make trouble will now think twice.”
The system was launched in Oveston town centre in 1998, funded by a Home Office grant and donations from local businesses.
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