(egovmonitor.com) - New community safety cameras are about to be deployed in Ryedale to combat a range of criminal behaviour.
Three totally mobile CCTV cameras, supplied by Wireless CCTV, have been purchased by 'Safer Ryedale', the Crime and Disorder Partnership, to help combat anti-social behaviour (ASB) and low-level street crime throughout the district, reports Trend.
The cameras are different to existing fixed town centre CCTV systems because they can be easily moved from location to location depending on where they are needed. The camera equipment can source the power needed to mobilise them from street lighting columns, where they can be firmly attached for however long they are needed.
Fred McManus, Safer Ryedales Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, believes the new equipment will be an important tool in catching criminals in the act; The cameras will provide us with the evidence we need to carry out a prosecution and gives us the eyes around the area to spot who the culprits are, in a much more flexible way.
The cameras will be used by the community safety partnership in conjunction with North Yorkshire Police. Ryedale District Council and the Ryedale Housing Association contributed to the purchase of the equipment and they will also be able to access the cameras to combat issues such as ASB, fly-tipping and the misuse of council facilities such as car parks.
Initially seven locations have been identified in Malton, Norton, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside where the three cameras will be moved around, according to need. The first two cameras are already in place and will become full operational when staff training is completed.
Fred McManus, ASB Co-ordinator for the 'Safer Ryedale' partnership said "We anticipate that these cameras will help ensure that Ryedales already low levels of crime and disorder will be maintained and hopefully reduced further. He also pointed out that the cameras will be placed where the public can see them, because their primary purpose is to stop crime and anti-social behaviour before it starts.
One of the first cameras to be deployed has been set up in Wentworth Street car park, where it's hoped it will become effective in assisting the police who are dealing with long-standing complaints from residents about the anti-social misuse of motor vehicles almost nightly by so-called 'boy racers'.
Mr McManus said; "Both the Police and myself, as ASB co-ordinator, receive numerous complaints from people in the Wentworth Street area, many of whom are elderly. They are constantly disturbed by the activities of young drivers who congregate in the car park at night, drive in a dangerous manner, adapt their car exhaust systems and fit 'boom boxes' to cause maximum noise and generally cause annoyance and distress to local residents.
He added that the occupants of the cars also invariably leave behind them a mountain of litter, which the council then has to clear up. The camera in Wentworth Street will be used to gather evidence against those who abuse the car park, which will be passed to the Police for action.