03 September 2010Sevenoaks District Council's CCTV cameras have proved their value in the fight against crime, and how they can help in slightly more unusual circumstances.
Recently released figures show that the 96 cameras across the District helped Kent Police make 272 arrests in the past year (1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009) compared to 238 for the year before.
As well as working with local shops and pubs to help reduce crime and the fear of crime in the District the CCTV cameras have also proved helpful in less conventional circumstances in the last few weeks when they helped find a missing dog.
In March Jennifer Tillett, the licensee of the Badger public house in New Ash Green, reported her two year old Chihuahua, Gismo, missing.
The Council’s CCTV team reviewed footage from the newly upgraded CCTV cameras in New Ash Green and viewed the dog, worth around £800, being put into a vehicle. Description of the vehicle and the persons involved was passed to the police.
The dog was located in Essex, and eight days later, on 24 March, the grateful owner and dog were reunited.
A couple of weeks later, on 8 April, the cameras also helped police in the arrest of five people in relation to the theft of a gold chain.
The arrests were instigated after the CCTV Control Room team received a call from a local PCSO, informing them that two males had stolen the £600 chain from Payne’s Jewellers in Sevenoaks High Street.
The cameras then located the males getting into a vehicle in Bligh’s car park and waiting for other members of their group to join them before leaving.
The vehicle eventually left the area, and all details and the direction of travel were relayed to the police, enabling them to stop the vehicle just past Sevenoaks Railway Station.
On searching the vehicle the chain and other stolen goods were found. Two men, two teenage boys and a woman were all arrested. The woman was later released without charge. The two men, aged 36 and 27, and the two teenage boys were bailed pending further enquiries.
The cameras were also instrumental in helping police arrest three shoplifters in Edenbridge on 6 April.
After receiving a report from the police of three female shoplifters leaving Boots in Edenbridge High Street, CCTV cameras located and monitored the women, informing the police of the location and direction of travel.
The women aged 24, 20 and 18, were arrested and charged with shoplifting. They have been bailed to appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court today (Friday 1 May).
Cllr Keith Loney, Sevenoaks District Council Cabinet member with responsibility for Community Safety, says: “Our CCTV cameras are a vital tool in the fight against crime and the fear of crime. Along with our excellent relationship with the police and local publicans and retailers, they serve as a warning to those involved in criminal activity that they are running the risk of being caught.”
Sevenoaks District Council's CCTV system has 96 cameras covering priority areas in Westerham, Edenbridge, Swanley, New Ash Green and in Sevenoaks.
The system is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by trained and highly skilled staff. It is operated and paid for by Sevenoaks District Council.
Notes for editors
13 CCTV cameras in New Ash Green were upgraded in Novbember 2008. The upgraded cameras tilt and pan in all directions working in full colour with a powerful zoom.
The new CCTV cameras are installed in New Ash Green are part of a three year CCTV improvement programme taking place across the District and costing £175,000 in total.
