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Top cop's call for more spy cameras |
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THE lack of CCTV
cameras in Islington is a "major concern", says the borough's top cop.
Top cop's call for more spy cameras 02 March 2005 Borough
Commander Superintendent Barry Norman has called for more cameras to be put
up along the A1 and Seven Sisters Road. And he wants more CCTV in Upper Street
to crack down on drunken louts and criminals. "I think there's a real shortfall
in our CCTV provision," he said, "particularly up the spine of the borough,
up the A1 and down Seven Sisters Road. "And it's inevitable that with the new
licensing laws the night time economy in Upper Street will grow and the lack
of CCTV provision there is a major concern. "What we desperately need is a strategy
that integrates fixed CCTV with mounted units [CCTV vans]". Business leaders
and Labour councillors have also called more cameras to help cut down on crime.
Steve Collard, manager of the N1 centre in Upper Street, said: "I'm wholeheartedly
in support of CCTV for public protection and safety. "I'd like to see more CCTV
in places where it would be appropriate." Islington's Labour group leader Councillor
Catherine West said: "I think we need more CCTV to help the police and play
a role in confidence-building across the borough. "The only CCTV in Upper Street
at the moment is outside the town hall." Labour's Islington South Prospective
Parliamentary Candidate Emily Thornberry added: "CCTV is a very important tool
in the fight against crime but Islington's one of the very few places in London
which doesn't have a proper CCTV
system." But Councillor George Allan (Liberal Democrat), executive member
for parking at Islington Council, says CCTV is a waste of time. "If you're stoned,
drunk, have mental health problems or have nothing to lose doing something on
camera isn't going to deter you," he said. "Control centres are very expensive.
In return for the having crimes recorded for posterity on camera maybe we're
giving up resources that could be used in other crime prevention." Islington
Council has set up a scrutiny panel to assess the CCTV needs in the borough.
Councillor Bridget Fox, the council's executive member for sustainability, says
it is important to be well informed about the issues around CCTV before paying
for it. She said: "CCTV costs hundreds of thousands of pounds to put up and
hundreds of thousands of pounds to monitor. We know it can work in certain areas
but we also know it's very expensive if it's done sensibly. We need to make
sure public money is being spent wisely which is why we're carrying out this
scrutiny review. "I personally wouldn't want to see cameras on every street.
From
the islington gazette |
