Potential criminals beware there are fewer places in Merton for you to hide as a £56,000 grant will take the number of CCTV cameras in the borough above 150.
Merton Council and Merton Partnership Against Crime (MPAC) a joint initiative between police, council and other community safety agencies to minimise crime and anti-social behaviour have won extra funding to keep an even better eye on crime and anti-social behaviour.
The cash, which has come from the Government Office for London, will be spent on a number of improvements, including an additional camera overlooking routes to and from Belgrave Walk Tramstop, and quieter and more visually acceptable cameras on High Path Housing Estate, to help make the CCTV Operations Centre more efficient and effective.
The borough's camera coverage has been massively expanded since 2001, with more than £678,000 spent on it and more than 50 new cameras installed in streets and car parks.
Merton Borough Police commander Des Stout believes CCTV has proved valuable in deterring crime and providing evidence to help bring convictions. "CCTV can work as a deterrent. As a borough it forms another supporting arm in our fight against terrorism," he said.
"With our own mobile CCTV, we can respond to locations where incidents begin".
MPAC Manager Steve Brennan said the service, which operates 24-hours, seven days a week, has direct voice and picture links to Wimbledon police control room, which allows incidents to be responded to straightaway.
January 29, 2003 10:30
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