4 December 2008, 08/279
Don’t let the credit crunch get you nicked on
CCTV!
Festive thieves are being warned not to fill up their stockings
in Ormskirk town centre this Christmas because it’s likely they
will be caught on camera!
West Lancashire District Council’s CCTV control room staff are
watching 24 hours a day to ensure that the town remains a safe
place to live, work and visit.
In one week alone during November the CCTV operators helped to
nail 16 shoplifters in the town centre who had tried to steal a
range of goodies from various stores to sell on.
But they were foiled thanks to partnership work between the CCTV
room, police and businesses signed up to the radio Shopwatch
scheme.
In one successful incident, a male offender who was caught in
the act has now been electronically tagged and barred from five
shops.
Cllr Paul Greenall, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety,
said:"In today’s current economic crisis and with the Christmas
period upon us, we predicted that there would be a likely increase
in shoplifting, but we have proved that we have the tools to fight
these cases. Our recent successes show that we are on the ball when
it comes to catching out these opportunist thieves and we hope it
sends out a clear warning to others not to bother coming to
Ormskirk to commit offences because we’re watching!"
The Council anticipated that the credit crunch and the festive
period could result in more thefts and has taken extra measures to
combat the problems. For example, when there are additional
Christmas markets there will be more CCTV operators on duty at peak
times to monitor the screens.
In fact, the Council is so confident that CCTV is a crucial tool
in fighting crime that it significantly invests almost £200,000 per
year on 24-hour monitoring. At present, there are 54 cameras across
the district covering busy shopping areas, parks, play areas, train
stations, underpasses and car parks.
Bill Taylor, Chairman of the West Lancashire Community Safety
Partnership, said:"One of our biggest priorities is making sure
that West Lancashire is a safe place for residents and visitors.
Our CCTV resources and initiatives such as the radio Shopwatch
scheme certainly play an important role in reducing crime and the
fear of crime. We hope that these tools and other stringent
measures will enhance public safety and act as a deterrent to
perpetrators!"
Businesses are also being urged to sign up to Shopwatch because
the system works even better when there are more premises linked up
to the scheme because retailers who use the radios can pass on
information regarding any suspicious activity. This way, the system
provides an important link between retailers, the CCTV operators
and the town centre policing team and facilitates a co-ordinated
approach to incidents.
To find out more about the Shopwatch scheme, please contact
Cliff Owens on 01695 585394.
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