CCTV in Marlborough's High Street

After years of campaigning, Marlborough's Town Mayor, Councillor Marian Hannaford-Dobson, is finishing her mayoral year as the first CCTV cameras are installed in the High Street.

Last year, alongside a public consultation which gave a thumbs up to the project, Councillors voted in favour of CCTV - not an easy decision to make and crime rates, costs, Protection of Freedom laws, etc. all had to be taken into account. A number of key stakeholders - the Town Council, the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Chamber of Commerce - met to identify the best system for the town as well as the optimum camera locations. The Press Release is below.

Pictured: The Mayor standing beneath one of the cameras on the Town Hall

Marlborough Town Council

PRESS RELEASE

14th May 2015

CCTV in Marlborough's High Street

After years of campaigning, Marlborough's Town Mayor, Councillor Margaret Hannaford-Dobson, is finishing her mayoral year as the first CCTV cameras are installed in the High Street.

Last year, alongside a public consultation which gave a thumbs up to the project, Councillors voted in favour of CCTV - not an easy decision to make and crime rates, costs, Protection of Freedom laws etc. all had to be taken into account. A number of key stakeholders - the Town Council, the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Chamber of Commerce met to identify the best system for the town as well as the optimum camera locations.

The system chosen, supplied by Alert Systems based in Trowbridge, is made up of the latest technology and its capabilities include facial and number plate recognition. There will be six cameras placed along the High Street and further cameras can be added as necessary.  Signage will be put in place and it is hoped that a sticker scheme will be introduced allowing retailers and businesses to advertise that the system is in operation right along the town’s famously wide High Street.

Councillor Hannaford-Dobson, said: “This is a real achievement and I am delighted that this has now come to fruition.  Local people have called for this for many years and our 2014 consultation sealed their approval.  It’s excellent value for money with equipment and installation costs at £25,000.  Even with some ongoing maintenance expenditure, it’s far less than most other local authorities are paying for their systems.  That said, it’s difficult to put a price on the safety of our community.”

Local Police Inspector, Matt Armstrong is a long time supporter of CCTV and is working closely with the Town Council on this.  He said: “This is great news for local policing.  Marlborough is a beautiful town to live in and visit and whilst CCTV is not an answer in itself to crime, it is a good tool to help deter criminals from coming and helps to ensure that crime here is kept at its low level.”

The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Alex Minoudis, has also been a major player in the project and actually applied to Wiltshire Council’s Area Board for £5,000 to help make it happen.  He commented:  “Retailers and businesses will be pleased that this is, at last, a reality.  Shoplifting is a real concern to retailers especially the small independent shops and with a couple of high profile thefts in the last 2 years, then this is very welcome.  It goes without saying that we are grateful to Wiltshire Council for awarding the additional funds.”

The remaining cameras will be installed over the next few weeks.

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