A new CCTV help point camera has been installed to help increase community safety and deter antisocial behaviour in the Radford area of Nottingham.
The operational help point, sited opposite the Midland Way Retail Park/at the junction of Midland Way, St Peter’s Street and Wollaton Road, enables people feeling unsafe to speak directly to CCTV control room operators for assistance.
As the high-definition 360-degree rotation camera is monitored 24-hours-a-day, the control room operators can quickly spot any signs of trouble in real time and ensure police are sent urgently in an emergency.
The innovative technology – also known as a refuge point – can also provide swift evidence for criminal investigations.
The help point has been bought and installed by police in direct response to consultation with key partners at the University of Nottingham, representing students living in the area.
The funding has come from a hotspot response fund – a government-backed initiative designed to address and reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour and serious violence in identified hotspot areas.
Inspector Liz Gaskin, of the City Central neighbourhood policing team, said: “We’ve had issues with antisocial behaviour in Midland Way which is a popular residential area for students
“These issues have included drug dealing and fireworks-related disorder on Bonfire Night.
“We have provided this help point to make members of the public, including students impacted by antisocial behaviour, feel safer in the knowledge that they have help at hand 24-hours-a day should they need it.
“The help point will also support us in making female residents around the Midland Way area feel safer by helping to deter and reduce violence against women and girls, which we treat extremely seriously as a force as a strategic priority.”
Brydie Adams, head of community engagement at the University of Nottingham, added: “We are delighted to see the implementation of enhanced safety measures in Lenton, secured through community engagement’s successful funding bid.
“This project delivers a crucial layer of protection for both students and the wider community, directly supporting strategic city safety plans, such as violence against women and girls and the Make Notts Safe Plan.
“By offering immediate emergency assistance and deterring crime, we are building a safer environment for everyone.
“We are particularly grateful for our partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and the collective impact we are making on community safety together.”
Nottinghamshire Police launched its Walk in My Shoes campaign last month to tackle the national threat of violence against women and girls.
The force is asking women across Nottinghamshire to tell us where they feel unsafe in the county through an online survey hosted on Notts Alerts – Nottinghamshire Police’s community messaging service.
Through the survey, women and girls are being asked to pinpoint on a map the public places where they have experienced unwanted behaviours, such as harassment or catcalling, or just generally feel unsafe and let us know what we can do to make them feel safer.
The key call to action in our campaign is to encourage all women and girls in Nottinghamshire to fill in our survey in order for us to gain as much valuable data as possible and put into action what we can to ensure they feel safer through our actions, creating safer spaces, alongside our partners.
