Home Local News Views sought by West Lancs Borough Council for suggested CCTV locations

Views sought by West Lancs Borough Council for suggested CCTV locations

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Money has been made available by West Lancashire Borough Council to provide for additional CCTV cameras in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk, and the Council have invited people to offer their views on where the cameras should be located. The new cameras would bring the total number which are operated by the Council in West Lancashire to 105.

The Council cameras are monitored 24/7 and they play a vital role in helping to prevent crime and disorder and to increase public safety. During 2013/14 CCTV operators referred 384 incidents to the police and as a result of those referrals there were 187 arrests made.

The Assistant Director Community Services for West Lancashire Borough Council and Chairman of the Community Safety Partnership, David Tilleray, said ‘Crime is low in West Lancashire and CCTV camera help to keep it that way. Community safety is one of the Council’s top priorities and for many years we have successfully operated CCTV cameras to help deter criminals and ensure that people feel safe.

‘We have expanded the CCTV system over the years to help meet the needs of the community and now we have allocated funding for a further three cameras. We are keen to hear the views of local people and community groups about these cameras and I urge people to take the time to look at the proposals and tell us what you think.’

The table below shows the suggested locations as well as why the cameras have been suggested for those locations.

Suggested locations Suggested by Justification
Tanfields    
Outside Primary School, looking towards general store Local councillor Anti-Social Behaviour
Castlehey    
Near lighting column looking towards the underpass, general store and Clay Brow Road Lancashire Constabulary Anti-Social Behaviour
Burscough Street, Ormskirk    
Corner of Burscough Street and Station Road  Residents’ group Anti-Social Behaviour and criminal damage

 

The public consultation begins on Monday 11th May and the deadline for comments is Monday 1st June 2015.

People can offer their views in the following ways:

  • Email safety@westlancs.gov.uk (please put “CCTV Consultation” in the subject box)
  • Write to: Community Safety Team, West Lancashire Borough Council, Robert Hodge Centre, Stanley Way, Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, WN8 8EE.

One of the issues the Council must have due regard to is privacy. The software that is used allows for parts of the CCTV image to be completely blanked out. There are several existing cameras where privacy settings are installed to completely blank out windows or whole houses so that residents’ privacy is ensured. If you have any comments about privacy in relation to the suggested locations please contact the Council, as set out above.

The comments and suggestions about the locations for the cameras will be considered by the Council before a final decision is made.

The Council must have regard to the Surveillance Camera Code Of Practice issued by the Home Office. This aims to ensure that cameras are necessary, appropriately located, do not affect people’s privacy and are operated appropriately.

For more information about the consultation please visit CCTV consultation May 2015. For more information about the Council’s CCTV cameras please visit CCTV.

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