Archived press release

Date Published: 08/11/06

Plans to install new security cameras in Aylesbury have taken a step closer to becoming reality. At a meeting of the council’s cabinet last night (7 November), members gave the green light for four new CCTV cameras to be provided in the tow...

Plans to install new security cameras in Aylesbury have taken a step closer to becoming reality.

At a meeting of the council’s cabinet last night (7 November), members gave the green light for four new CCTV cameras to be provided in the town centre and Cambridge Street. The council will now be asked to approve the £80,000 funding for the scheme.

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 are proposed 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 new security camera will also be installed in Cambridge Street, subject to funding approval from the council. Consultation has taken place with the police who indicated that CCTV will assist in the policing of the area, particularly in relation to various acts of anti-social behaviour.

The new cameras will be linked up to the CCTV control room in Aylesbury, where they will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing operators to call emergency services if an incident arises. The sites for the cameras will be identified by the council based on advice from the police as to where they would be most beneficial in the town.

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 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 detecting and fighting crime in Aylesbury.

This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will allow more monitoring of different areas of the town.

Councillor Pam Pearce, Cabinet Member for Community Matters, said the security cameras had an important role to play in helping to lower people’s fear of crime as well as crime itself. “Tackling crime and disorder is one of our main priorities and new CCTV cameras will help us to deliver this. We hope these new cameras will go some way in making people feel safer when going about their business in Aylesbury – acting as a deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour and helping the police identify and apprehend criminals,” she said.

“The CCTV scheme is just one of the tools we use to detect and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour. We’ll continue to work in partnership with a range of organisations to ensure people feel safe when they are out and about in the town,” she added.

A decision on the funding of new CCTV cameras in Aylesbury will be made at a meeting of the council on 29 November.