Our award-winning community safety team captured over 6,000 incidents and is playing a significant role in reducing the level of disorder and antisocial behaviour across our communities.
Our award-winning community safety team captured over 6,000 incidents, including helping to locate missing people, alerting police to a man armed with a knife and providing evidence to court. It's playing a significant role in reducing the level of disorder and antisocial behaviour within our communities.
Operating 1,288 cameras, 24 hours a day, the former Town Centre Activities (TCA) Ltd, which included public space CCTV monitoring and the antisocial behaviour out-of-hours service, was brought in house and delivered through the Community Safety Hub within the Housing Solutions service from 1st April 2019.
CCTV provides an invaluable tool for the detection of crime, antisocial behaviour and community safety. During its first 18 months the team has:
- Passed 975 environmental incidents, including details of fly tipping, to Environmental Protection Officers,
- Assisted missing person enquiries and used CCTV to help find 339 missing people;
- Recorded and acted on 823 incidents within towers and low-rise properties,
- Produced and provided 1,028 evidence discs to the Procurator Fiscal service as evidence, and,
- relayed CCTV images to support the council's resilience capacity during major incidents, adverse weather or other emergencies.
Other incidents recorded include a vehicle observed driving erratically and seen striking temporary traffic signs. The vehicle was followed through various CCTV systems and traced to registered keepers address. Police found large quantity of drugs within the vehicle and driver was reported for possession with intent to supply and driving under the influence of drugs.
Another incident involved four men seen in a street, one in possession of a large bladed knife. The male with the knife was seen to conceal it in the sleeve of his jacket before entering a taxi. Police updated and attended, vehicle stopped and male apprehended for possession of the knife.
Tonia McBurnie, Housing Solutions Manager, said: “Our CCTV monitoring is all about making sure our communities and housing areas are as safe and secure as possible. It is very encouraging to see the positive impact this has had on helping to reduce crime levels, curb antisocial behaviour and provide support for vulnerable people. The system has also been invaluable in helping us to trace lost individuals and those suffering from medical conditions who needed urgent support.
“The use of our CCTV service is supported by residents. A recent survey shows that 84% of people believe antisocial behaviour and crime would rise without their use and residents also commented that they feel cameras increase community confidence.
“By aligning our antisocial response day team and public protection team we’ve enhanced our operations, strengthening our information and knowledge sharing and improving public safety. We’ll continue to work closely with our partners, including the emergency services, all sharing the same commitment and determination to look after and support our local residents and keep our communities safe.”