CCTV Experts Zoom in on Newcastle
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CCTV experts from across the UK descended onto Newcastle for the biggest conference of its type in the country.
The event, which was held on the 16 November, gathered togetherthe latest security and crime fighting technology as well as the leading experts in the industry who will debate on how they can best use their CCTV systems to make the streets safer, reduce the fear of crime and detect serious offences.
The UK is recognised as one of the heaviest users of CCTV for crime deterrence and investigation in Europe. It is thought that there are up to 1.5 million CCTV cameras in operation in Britain. However, the UK’s pro-active use of the technology often spurs anti-surveillance campaigners to speak out against the way the technology is used.
To highlight this debate the conference will hold a Question Time style debate on the use of CCTV and how it is perceived by the public.
Speaking at the debate will be the country’s most senior Police officer on CCTV Deputy Chief Constable Graeme Gerrard of Cheshire Constabulary, a keen supporter of CCTV and co-author of the National CCTV Strategy which recommends best practice on how authorities use CCTV as part of their security.
Also joining the debate is Alex Deane, Director of Big Brother Watch. Alex is a prominent voice against the increasing use of CCTV.
Derek Maltby, Director of Global MSC Security, said: “Success stories involving CCTV tend to go unreported in the media and this is naturally over-shadowed by the more pro-active campaigners who are against the widespread use of the technology. “This is the fourth year this conference has been held in Newcastle and we are delighted to continue this partnership with Safe Newcastle.”
Community Safety Partnership, Safe Newcastle, has championed the use of CCTV as a tool to tackle local crime and anti-social behaviour and increase the public’s confidence in community safety.
Paul Angus, Community Safety Officer with Safe Newcastle who has responsibility for coordination of CCTV across the city, “Over the last few years we have successfully used alternative forms of CCTV throughout the city. Re-deployable CCTV cameras are located on street furniture and used in areas that require CCTV as a short term measure to tackle crime in identified hotspot areas. We always try to use CCTV sparingly and only as part of a number of measures put in place to reduce crime and anti social behaviour in neighbourhoods. We can install these cameras very quickly when a problem has been identified, proving to be very popular with residents.
“Safe Newcastle is keen to foster closer links with the business community because we realise that crime and anti-social behaviour can be detrimental to them and their experiences and problems are often unique.
“This conference gives us the ideal platform to do this. It also allows us to share best practice with other areas and find out how national developments in CCTV will further benefit Safe Newcastle”.
