Archived press release

Date Published: 01/12/06

AVDC is set to invest £80,000 to improve and extend the CCTV scheme in Aylesbury. At a meeting of the full council last night (29 November), members opted to approve funding for three new cameras for the town centre and an additional camera...

AVDC is set to invest £80,000 to improve and extend the CCTV scheme in Aylesbury.

At a meeting of the full council last night (29 November), members opted to approve funding for three new cameras for the town centre and an additional camera to watch over Cambridge Street.

The council has agreed the funding for new cameras as part of its commitment to tackling crime and disorder, reducing anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime.

Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters, said: “Making our communities safer is one of this council’s key priorities and the funding for the new cameras clearly shows we are taking action. It’s a fantastic result for the community of Aylesbury and I am confident that the cameras will have a positive effect on not only reducing crime and disorder in the area but also in reassuring the public and raising confidence. CCTV is an important weapon in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour and these new cameras will be vital in catching criminals and bringing more offenders to justice.”

AVDC will work in partnership with the police, local residents and businesses on where the new cameras should be installed.

The CCTV scheme in Aylesbury is around eight years old and changes in the town centre now require existing camera numbers and sittings to be reviewed to maintain necessary coverage. Three new town centre cameras will be installed to help widen the council’s sweep of CCTV surveillance and make it easier for the police to keep a check on potential trouble areas

A security camera will also be installed in Cambridge Street for the first time following consultation with the police, who indicated that CCTV would assist in the policing of the area, particularly in relation to various acts of anti-social behaviour.

The council currently operates 18 CCTV cameras in Aylesbury town centre, together with CCTV in a number of town centre car parks. All cameras are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from a central control room managed by Thames Valley Police and jointly funded by the police and the council.

Capacity in the current control room is limited but works are underway to provide a new state-of-the-art control centre with enhanced facilities for preventing and detecting crime. This work is expected to be completed early in the new year and will allow more monitoring of different areas of the town.

Supt Carole Haveron, Aylesbury Vale LPA commander, Thames Valley Police, said: “We welcome these additional cameras, which will improve the existing CCTV network. We expect this to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.”