Newbury's CCTV Options

[dannyboy]

That might be the case, but that doesn't remove the responsibility of the office to show its worth. If we are attempting to reduce costs, then it is only right we examine the effectiveness of the system and what SLA we could expect.

And therein lies the paradox of being a politician & public servant. You have to anticipate what the public want & be seen to deliver it. Even if that means using spin & making sure what you say it what you think the people want to hear. Fine until you fine yourself out of synch with the electorate.

[Bofem]

What about crime stats? Surely the CCTV system should be audited for its value and effectiveness?

Some may think CCTV would be most useful in reducing things like car theft, muggings, and assault in the street.

But if you check ONS, you'll find these categories have gone up 600% in the last 10 years in West Berks vs an overall drop in these categories nationally over the same period.

In other words, since CCTV was installed, local crime has rocketed. All rather pointless then eh? Millions of pounds of our cash (not only taxation, but developer contributions) has been wasted on a system that clearly doesn't work. Politics triumphs over reality once again

[Iommi]

If I wanted to reduce cost of the CCTV and it showed that is has had little statistical affect, then it would be easy to do. You seem to suggest that perhaps the CCTV is statistically a significant part of the town security system, as if it were not, it would be easy to justify its downscaling.

[Iommi]

Some may think CCTV would be most useful in reducing things like car theft, muggings, and assault in the street.

But if you check ONS, you'll find these categories have gone up 600% in the last 10 years in West Berks vs an overall drop in these categories nationally over the same period.

In other words, since CCTV was installed, local crime has rocketed. All rather pointless then eh? Millions of pounds of our cash (not only taxation, but developer contributions) has been wasted on a system that clearly doesn't work. Politics triumphs over reality once again

But that is only one aspect of the system. It also doesn't tell what would things be like without the CCTV. This is what is meant by stats and lies. Whether it is good value or not cannot be determined simply by the views you post. It would be interesting what the view of the police is in all this. Not that I think they would be entitled to speak openly on the topic.

[dannyboy]

But that is only one aspect of the system. It also doesn't tell what would things be like without the CCTV. This is what is meant by stats and lies. Whether it is good value or not cannot be determined simply by the views you post. It would be interesting what the view of the police is in all this. Not that I think they would be entitled to speak openly on the topic.

Problem is on such topics, where so much is at stake, you cannot rely on any single source of information. Especially when some have so much to lose & others gain.

It is a bit like finding an address in a locale you do not know. Do you rely on asking a passer by, reading a map or using a sat nav? Each has its mertits & each has its pitfalls. There is no way to know for sure. So you rely on what you yourself think is best, taking into account your own experience, often in contradiction to good advice from others.

[Richard Garvie]

What CCTV has actually done in West Berkshire is improver crime DETECTION. You are right that crime detection percentages have gone up, as before CCTV, not all of this crime would have been reported to the police or dealt with seriously if there wasn't enough evidence to back up your report of a crime taking place.

User23 / Dannyboy, go and visit the retailers and ask them how they feel anbout CCTV. Ask people on the doorstep how they feel.

[dannyboy]

User23 / Dannyboy, go and visit the retailers and ask them how they feel anbout CCTV. Ask people on the doorstep how they feel.

Asking a direct question about CCTV is pre-conditioning people to give a positive response.

I'd bet that if asked about crime reduction in general , CCTV would be low on the list of answers given.

[Richard Garvie]

Asking a direct question about CCTV is pre-conditioning people to give a positive response.

I'd bet that if asked about crime reduction in general , CCTV would be low on the list of answers given.

You'd be surprised how many people are aware about the CCTV. When doing campaigning in the market square on Saturday night, no end of people brough it up.

[dannyboy]

You'd be surprised how many people are aware about the CCTV. When doing campaigning in the market square on Saturday night, no end of people brough it up.

Bringing things up in the market place on a Saturday night - hmmm, what a thought.

But, you would say that people talked about the CCTV unprompted. See my post above......

[Richard Garvie]

Bringing things up in the market place on a Saturday night - hmmm, what a thought.

But, you would say that people talked about the CCTV unprompted. See my post above......

Well, rather than aiming our manifesto at certain parts of the community, we are trying to engage with everyone. It would be nice to see the other parties trying to engage with the public too, regardless of whether they enjoy a saturday night or not.

[blackdog]

Would this prosecution (http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=15717) have had the same result if the incident happened three weeks ago?

[Cognosco]

Some may think CCTV would be most useful in reducing things like car theft, muggings, and assault in the street.

But if you check ONS, you'll find these categories have gone up 600% in the last 10 years in West Berks vs an overall drop in these categories nationally over the same period.

In other words, since CCTV was installed, local crime has rocketed. All rather pointless then eh? Millions of pounds of our cash (not only taxation, but developer contributions) has been wasted on a system that clearly doesn't work. Politics triumphs over reality once again

Is this increase due to the actual crimes being recorded on CCTV?

A number of crimes do not get reported now as it is well known that nothing gets done unless there is some sort of evidence? So perhaps there is a lot of crimes going on in the country that is never reported through lack of apathy?

The complaints and criticism is not about should we have CCTV in Newbury or not. I agree if it is not cost effective or efficient then it should be scrapped. The uproar is because the council has told totally mishandled the project and deceived the taxpayers and business community. If it was not cost effective and not efficient then why move it to Windsor? Why did they not keep it in Newbury and then just cut the amount of camera's would it not have had the same effect?

Of course until there is an investigation or the council breaks their deafening silence then the alleged fiasco continues.

[user23]

Allegedly no-one wrote in. At the moment is is one word against another.

There's no allegedly about it, it's there from the horse's mouth, no one wrote in.

[Iommi]

There's no allegedly about it, it's there from the horse's mouth, no one wrote in.

They might not be telling the truth, or know the truth. At the moment it is an allegation. End of.

[user23]

They might not be telling the truth, or know the truth. At the moment it is an allegation. End of.

No, they're telling us that they received no letters, they're not alleging anything.

Now, it's up to you if you want to call them liars and spout more conspiracy theories.

[Cognosco]

There's no allegedly about it, it's there from the horse's mouth, no one wrote in.

Lost in the post?

I posted a letter last Thursday at the main post office in Newbury First Class, nothing to do with NWN by the way, Still not arrived in Southampton this morning.

I did not witness people post letters or deliver them by hand to NWN so cannot categorically prove but have been told they have written in to the NWN a total of five people at last count regarding the CCTV? The wife was in town Monday and a group of yobbo's were acting up and a group of pensioners were heard to say they are getting away with it because there is no CCTV!!! So very common knowledge me thinks.

[user23]

The wife was in town Monday and a group of yobbo's were acting up and a group of pensioners were heard to say they are getting away with it because there is no CCTV!!! So very common knowledge me thinks.

Unfortunately this is the result of the antics of a few in this thread.

I've no idea what was or was not functioning, but advertising nothing is working as a few have been doing for their own political gain has backfired on them considerably it would seem.

[Cognosco]

Unfortunately this is the result of the antics of a few in this thread.

I've no idea what was or was not functioning, but advertising nothing is working as a few have been doing for their own political gain has backfired on them considerably it would seem.

So are you saying all the camera's are working then User? If so and they are working properly why was no police called as they were causing mayhem apparently? That is the main reason the CCTV was installed is it not?

[Richard Garvie]

So are you saying all the camera's are working then User? If so and they are working properly why was no police called as they were causing mayhem apparently? That is the main reason the CCTV was installed is it not?

Even if the control room see anything (if it's working), they can't tell anyone anyway!!!

[user23]

So are you saying all the camera's are working then User?

I think I was perfectly clear when I said I've no idea what was or was not functioning so stop the usual mischief making.

Even if the control room see anything (if it's working), they can't tell anyone anyway!!!

Is the control room not equipped with a telephone?