CCTV to take bigger role in crime-busting

23 Aug 01
The government is to extend its commitment to closed-circuit TV cameras as a crime-fighting tool by investing £79m in 250 new surveillance schemes.

24 August 2001

The government is to extend its commitment to closed-circuit TV cameras as a crime-fighting tool by investing £79m in 250 new surveillance schemes.

The Home Office announcement on August 21 marked the largest single government allocation towards CCTV projects. Thousands of cameras will be installed in residential crime 'hot spots', shopping centres, car parks and hospitals.

John Denham, the home office minister with overall responsibility for crime reduction, said: 'CCTV has repeatedly proved its effectiveness in the fight against crime and the fear of crime. It acts as an important set of eyes for the police, providing valuable evidence where incidents occur.

'This money will make a real contribution to continuing the national trend in falling crime figures.'

The Home Office says CCTV has led to falling crime rates and an increase in arrests in many areas. It points to a local authority estate in Firthmoor in Darlington which has seen a 46% drop in recorded crime. And the new control room in Sunderland produced evidence that was used in 225 arrests.

The schemes benefiting from the announcement include 210 cameras to monitor the Docklands Light Railway system at a cost of £2.7m, £800,000 for Doncaster Royal Infirmary and £975,000 for 42 cameras in three towns in the New Forest to 'tackle the crime displaced from the surrounding areas that have CCTV'.

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