THE ANGUS Community Safety Partnership has introduced new technology to help them in their fight against anti-social behaviour, writes Gordon Cook.
Two re-deployable CCTV cameras are now available for use anywhere in the county where there is an identified problem with anti-social or criminal behaviour.
Purchased by Tayside Police and Angus Council, with the assistance of additional funding f
or Angus Youth Justice Forum and Communities Scotland, the technology is part of a new generation of wireless camera surveillance systems.
At the launch are, from left - Councillor Jim Millar, Inspector Ron McNaughton and Stuart Leslie, from SCS Security, who designed the system.
Councillor Jim Millar, convener of neighbourhood services at Angus Council said: "I am delighted to be involved in this innovative project spearheaded by the Community Safety Partnership. The types of deployment I have seen today only highlight the diverse range of problems these cameras can be used for.
"Importantly for me, CCTV cameras help to reduce the fear of crime on the streets. Not only are they deployed to prevent instances of antisocial behaviour they also provide the police and other partners with intelligence and evidence for enforcement, all crucial in dealing with the longer effects of the problem."
The cameras are designed for operational flexibility. They can be deployed as a stand-alone system, or integrated with existing networks. They can be powered by mains battery or other power source.
This means that the cameras can be quickly moved to any area where there are existing problems or where information suggests that new problems are beginning to emerge.
Unlike other areas, the images recorded by the Angus cameras, through this pilot project, will be beamed back to police divisional HQ in Forfar and monitored by staff within the CCTV unit.
