Calls to boost CCTV coverage

CALLS have been made for an additional £10,000 pot of cash to be made available to boost CCTV coverage in Worcester during the nighttime economy and popular evening events.

Labour councillor Joy Squires made the plea during a meeting to examine Worcester City Council's spending plans for the coming financial year.

The Arboretum councillor said a fund should be set up to allow for extra monitoring in the city during periods such as the run-up to Christmas and the city's popular Victorian Christmas Fayre.

Coun Squires told a meeting of the city council's performance management and budget scrutiny board the fund could be managed by a partnership of bodies including West Mercia Police, community safety groups, Nightsafe and the Detached Youth Team who would decide how cash was spent and where the extra CCTV monitoring was required.

At present the city's CCTV cameras are monitored from a centre in Pershore as part of a shared-service with Wychavon District Council.

"We need to recognise a number of important events coming up in the city such as the opening of the Worcester Arena which is sure to boost Worcester's night-time economy," said Coun Squires.

"The opening of the arena is certainly going to bring people into Worcester of an evening and we need to ensure their safety and that of local businesses."

Her proposal will be considered by members of the council's cabinet when they meet on Tuesday (February 12).

Coun Jabba Riaz (Cons, Cathedral), cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities, told the Standard: "From our perspective at the moment we are willing to consider any recommendation.

"If the proposals are viable then we will certainly take the matter further. CCTV is now a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore and we have made our feelings clear about its provision in Worcester in his Police and Crime Plan.

"In that respect if there is a need for more CCTV in Worcester then it is in the hands of Mr Longmore to decide where the money should be spent."

"We will always strive to ensure residents are safe when they come into the city centre and anything we can do to enhance that without affecting other services we will certainly do so."

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