Newark and Sherwood District Council’s new CCTV control room has already delivered positive results after helping police quickly locate and arrest a suspect following a reported attempted motorcycle theft in Newark.
Police were called to Mather Street at 3.48 am on Sunday 5 April, where a motorcycle was found on its side. Council CCTV operators monitored live footage and tracked a suspect moving through the town centre, directing officers to the Millennium Bridge, where a 16-year-old boy was arrested less than 20 minutes after the initial call.
The incident highlights the positive impact of the new Newark CCTV control room, which enables faster information sharing, improved monitoring and stronger collaboration between the District Council and Nottinghamshire Police.
The upgraded facility is designed to support crime prevention, improve public safety and provide reassurance to residents by ensuring incidents can be responded to quickly and effectively.
Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This incident clearly shows the value of the District Council’s new CCTV control room. Our operators were able to provide real-time information to Nottinghamshire Police, helping officers respond quickly and resolve the situation within minutes. It demonstrates how effective investment in modern CCTV can directly support frontline policing and improve outcomes for our residents.
“CCTV is about prevention, partnership and reassurance. By strengthening our working relationship with the police and equipping our control room with up-to-date technology, the District Council is playing an active role in keeping Newark safe. This early success underlines our commitment to community safety, and the benefits residents can expect from this enhanced service.”
Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour has long been one of our top policing priorities here in Newark and Sherwood, so the new CCTV control room is certainly welcomed by us.
“It’s great news to hear this is already leading to positive results – in this case, a suspect being arrested in rapid time in connection with the attempted theft of a motorbike.
“Having a dedicated CCTV system focusing on this district alone will assist us in responding to more reports as they happen, while also gathering higher-quality footage to support our subsequent investigations.
“We’re committed to doing anything we can to crack down on ASB and other offending in Newark and Sherwood, so are delighted to have been able to work with the council to make this happen.”
The new CCTV control room has been introduced as part of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s ongoing investment in public safety and crime prevention. Now, with a dedicated facility and a focused team, operators will monitor approximately 90 cameras within Newark, Southwell, Ollerton and surrounding communities.
Alongside this improvement, the District Council is continuing to deliver diversionary youth activities, investing in sustainable town centre CCTV infrastructure, installing bleed kits, and supporting Nottinghamshire Police with tools such as knife wands for nighttime economy checks.
