CCTV cameras in Alresford
would help catch vandals in
the town, according to a community
support officer.
Melissa Panter told a meeting
of New Alresford Town
Council last Thursday that
there had been a lot of criminal
damage in West Street and
Broad Street recently, and that
cameras would help in finding
out who was behind it.
Town council chairman Cllr
Ken Yeldham said he would
canvass opinion of the town
before making a decision.
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"It's one of those things
where we'll have to open up a
big debate," he said."But it's a
difficult one.
"I think some of the town's
older people would feel more
secure with it."
But speaking after the meeting,
Insp Jim Pegler said he
was sceptical about the need
for cameras in a place like
Alresford.
He said: "I don't want to be
at odds with my police community
support officer.
"But if we get a picture of
the offenders, can we identify
them and will this lead to a
conviction?
"There is a deterrent effect,
but I would not be convinced
about the argument for it."
Insp Pegler, in charge of
policing in the east ofWinchester,
revealed that since the
start of the year there had
been 38 instances of criminal
damage. Of these, seven were
committed in West Street or
Broad Street, five of which
would have been in the view of
any cameras.
He added: "It will be a decision
for the town council,
whether the expense is worth
the possibility of detecting
these offenders.
"It's an intrusion into people's
lives and is it proportionate
to the need of detecting
these criminals?"
Simon Evans, owner of The
Naked Grape and chairman of
the town's chamber of commerce,
told the meeting he had
already investigated the possibility
of installing his own
cameras, and that he had been
quoted around £45,000 for an
"all-singing, all-dancing" system.
Other town councillors were
against the installation of
CCTV.
Cllr John Cattle, an expoliceman,
said: "The best
form of CCTV is police on the
street. The police cover we get
in Alresford is an absolute joke
- it's shocking."
Cllr Roy Gentry, said: "I have
concerns about CCTV because
the whole town is a conservation
area and we even have to
get planning permission to put
hanging baskets up!
"I can't believe we'd want to
contaminate the town with
CCTV cameras.
"It seems we'd go to a lot of
expense and not address residents'
concerns."
Posted by: Andy Pearce, Bucharest on 3:06pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote]Cllr John Cattle, an expoliceman, said: "The best form of CCTV is police on the street. The police cover we get in Alresford is an absolute joke - it's shocking."[/quote] I agree 100% human eyes are far better than camera eyes. Strange how no one was around when these acts took place?
On the other hand they could use the CCTV cameras to monitor the car parking? Number plate recognition and all that!
Cllr John Cattle, an expoliceman, said: "The best form of CCTV is police on the street. The police cover we get in Alresford is an absolute joke - it's shocking."
I agree 100% human eyes are far better than camera eyes. Strange how no one was around when these acts took place?
On the other hand they could use the CCTV cameras to monitor the car parking? Number plate recognition and all that!
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