Borough CCTV cameras helped with nearly 200 arrests

11.34.34am GMT Mon 29th Sep 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne visited the control centre of the borough's state of the art closed circuit television system to see the impact on cutting crime.

Mr Huhne, pictured here at the control console for the 62 camera unit with Eastleigh Borough Council officer Dennis Chandler, was told that evidence from the CCTV cameras had been very useful in cutting crime over the last year.

Pictures from the CCTV have been used to monitor 2020 incidents across the whole borough including Eastleigh town and Hedge End, and there were 597 detentions in 2007-8 in which CCTV played some part.

Some 197 detentions would not have happened without the CCTV operator alerting police, and Eastleigh police estimate that cameras are worth 10 police on the beat, Mr Huhne said.

"This is an impressive facility which now provides state of the art monitoring of public places with a risk of crime. All the cameras are now of a quality necessary to provide evidence in court, and the recent successes show that they are working" said Mr Huhne.

The Eastleigh MP, who is his party's home affairs spokesman, said that CCTV was one of the technologies which, when used properly and responsibly, could have a substantial impact in reducing crime.

"There is even a careful screening device which means that the cameras cannot intrude into the privacy of people's homes, which makes them all the more effective in safeguarding our streets" he said.

The incidents monitored vary from violent behaviour, youth nuisance, shoplifting, as well as spotting persons missing from children's homes, attempted suicides and vulnerable females late at night.