Council invests in additional public safety CCTV cameras
Last year, an investment of £100,000 was granted in the 2021 mid-year budget to increase CCTV in Southampton as part of the Citywatch partnership to help combat anti-social behaviour and deter crime
A further £160,000 investment has now been agreed as part of the 2022/23 budget setting.
The Citywatch partnership with Balfour Beatty provides residents with protection and reassurance that there are people looking out for their safety and their property and making Southampton a safer place to live, work and visit. In Southampton, there are currently 773 cameras within the CCTV system which includes those specifically placed to combat anti-social behaviour.
Southampton City Council has carried out a comprehensive review of the CCTV cameras that exist within the Citywatch network to help inform where additional CCTV would be of most benefit. The analysis was cross referenced with reported incidents of crime, with a particular focus on anti-social behaviour, to help inform evidence-based need.
As a result, the following locations will benefit from the funding:
- Broad Green/ Cossack Green
- Cumbrian Way
- Daisy Dip play area
- Empress Road
- Garton Road/ Itchen Bridge
- Redbridge Towers
- Riverside Park/ Cobden Bridge
- Sturminster House
- Millbrook Towers/ Mansel Park
- Weston Parade
- Windermere Avenue
Additional CCTV at Shirley Towers, International Way, HightownTowers, Dumbleton Towers, Millbank House and Albion Towers will also form part of the review.
The investment will also go towards the purchase of three new rapidly deployable solar powered cameras. These battery-operated cameras can be easily moved depending on need. They are accessed via 4G and topped up by solar panel energy meaning that there is no need for power provisions. The council will be trialling these cameras at three locations that are known for fly-tipping.
Councillor Spiros Vassiliou, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Heritage said:
“Anti-social behaviour can devastate the lives of victims and communities which can sometimes lead to more serious crime. CCTV is a proven tool in helping to detect crimes and helping to identify perpetrators, but it is not a single solution. The investment towards our CCTV network is part of an entire system approach in helping to make our city a better and safer place to live, including the recent grants awarded to community groups and organisations from the Community Fund.
“We continue to work closely with the Police and city partners to support our communities to be safe, build resilience and increase feelings of safety when in public, but we also need the goodwill of our communities to work together to reduce harm and create more opportunity for all.”
Southampton City Council is working with partners to ensure that CCTV cameras are installed as soon as possible. Involved parties are constantly looking at alternative options to mitigate delays caused by supply chains and backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
