CCTV for St Annes and Kirkham
Residents using St Annes and Kirkham town centres can feel safer in the knowledge that they are being protected by a monitored close circuit television system.
By working closely with Blackpool Council and Western Divisional Police the partnership has gained access to the state of the art CCTV control room as well as the expertise and professionalism of the people staffing it. This new system will allow the CCTV footage to be monitored in real time across peak periods in St. Annes and Kirkham town centres thereby acting as a deterrent to help reduce crime and the fear of crime as well as assisting in bringing offenders to justice.
The installation costs of £131,000 as well as the on-going monitoring and maintenance costs will be fully met by a range of partners, including the Fylde Local Strategic Partnership, the Community Safety Partnership, the Safer Lancashire Board and Fylde Borough Council, up to 2012. From then on Fylde Borough Council will become the sole funder of the project. The monitored CCTV system will enhance the existing rapid deployment camera provision within the Borough which is based on 20 cameras that have the capability of being moved quickly between numerous locations across the Fylde area.
The implementation of the monitored CCTV initiative has the added value of allowing six of the existing rapid deployment cameras, currently in the two town centres concerned, to be re-deployed across outlying areas of the Borough.
Councillor Patricia Fieldhouse, Cabinet Member for social Wellbeing, moved for the decision to be made and said: “During the summer months a small working group deliberated on the best way to develop CCTV provision within the Borough. The conclusion reached by the Group was that a monitored CCTV system was the favoured option.
“By installing this network of fixed cameras, with people watching them throughout peak periods we are demonstrate a firm commitment from the Council in maintaining safe communities and reducing the fear of crime. Although, the Fylde area is one of the safest in Lancashire, the fear of crime is an issue of concern for us. CCTV, either monitored or mobile, helps reassure residents and visitors as well as providing invaluable data to combat actual crime.
This is an example of partnership working at its best with a range of partners coming together to develop a funding package to support monitored CCTV within the Borough in order to maintain safe communities and reduce the fear of crime. The Borough Council has given its firm commitment to this by contributing to the initial capital funding and providing a commitment to become the sole funder of the project from 2012 onwards”.
County Councillor Bernard Whittle OBE; Chair of the Fylde Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership said “ The provision of this new managed system, initially in St Annes and Kirkham Town Centre’s will be of great benefit in deterring crime and antisocial behavior and reassure the residents and visitors in Fylde. I am extremely pleased that CCTV has been valued as a significant way forward in addressing one of Fylde Borough Councils’ main objectives of reducing the fear of crime”
Last Edited: 12/03/2009