Police seek funding for more CCTV coverage in expanding Northumberland town

Northumbria Police has outlined a hope for more CCTV coverage in Alnwick.
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Better coverage around the bus station and new cameras in recently-established parts of the town, such as the Willowburn Retail Park, are top of the wish-list.

Sgt Paul Sykes from the neighbourhood policing team spoke on the subject at a meeting of Alnwick Town Council.

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He said: “Since the system was installed we have seen the town change significantly, especially at the Willowburn end, and we have got to know the strengths and weaknesses of the system.

Alnwick.Alnwick.
Alnwick.

"It’s a very good system but it has limitations in that there’s no operator looking at the images 24 hours a day. However, do we need that in Alnwick? I don’t think we do.”

He felt CCTV worked as a deterrent, provided reassurance, helped ensure justice is done and that any impact on civil liberties was minimal.

"As an investigator, CCTV proves and also disproves,” he said. “The cameras are a very good witness and when you show a visible image in court it speaks a thousand words.”

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Private CCTV systems sometimes had issues with quality and access and police are not aware of all of them.

The CCTV display in Alnwick Police Station. Picture by Jane ColtmanThe CCTV display in Alnwick Police Station. Picture by Jane Coltman
The CCTV display in Alnwick Police Station. Picture by Jane Coltman

Sgt Sykes noted that there had been incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour at the bus station.

"The system there is private, it’s sometimes broken (although fixed now) and the access is Monday to Friday through Arriva at Ashington so there are implications when we have to request CCTV and collect it,” he said.

"We’ve got to appreciate that private CCTV is installed for the benefit of companies and not necessarily for the public or the police.

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"Now, between October and December last year we had four crimes in the bus station and, for the whole of 2020, we had 26 incidents ranging from anti-social behaviour to Covid complaints, assaults and public order.”

Alnwick bus station.Alnwick bus station.
Alnwick bus station.

He said no firm decisions had been taken on camera locations.

The cameras are understood to cost around £1,000 each and Sgt Sykes said he recognised the council would have its own budget issues.

"The report that was put in is an ultimate wish-list so any further investment would be much appreciated by our side,” he said.

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The town council will consider potentially funding CCTV at its March meeting.

Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick.Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick.
Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick.
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Where most crime is reported to be taking place across large parts of Northumber...

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