New CCTV cameras will be installed in a Nottinghamshire town in a bid to tackle violence against women and girls.
Plans are in place to install three Safe Refuge CCTV cameras in Sutton-in-Ashfield by the end of year – part of a wider government funded initiative to prevent crime.
Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry recently secured £550,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund after submitting a successful bid on behalf of the residents of Sutton-in-Ashfield to make women and girls in the area feel safe and be safe.
Part of this funding will be used for three state-of-the-art 4G HD Safe Refuge CCTV cameras – the first of their kind in the country.
These highly-conspicuous cameras will be able to connect straight through to the police control room and show the controller a live video feed of the area at the push of a button, providing an instant police response to any resident in need of help.
Residents will also be able to speak directly with the controller in the police control room and vice versa.
The bid to the Home Office was developed in partnership with consultation with local MP, Lee Anderson, the police, local authority partners as well as local residents in the Sutton and New Cross area.
On Thursday Commissioner Henry was joined by Lee Anderson MP and neighbourhood policing commander, Inspector Mark Dickson, to determine whereabouts the cameras will be installed.
Superintendent Kevin Broadhead, of Nottinghamshire Police, said “CCTV cameras can play a vital role not only in detecting and solving crimes, but also in preventing offences from happening in the first place. This exciting and innovative use of camera technology is an excellent example of crime prevention and I am delighted that it is being rolled out in the local area. Safer Streets money is starting to make a real difference to our ongoing work to make everyone feel safe.”
Commissioner Henry said: “I am delighted that through the funding I secured, we can be pioneering in our approach to tackling violence against women and girls.”
“These cameras will offer a level of instant police response previously unseen, act as a deterrent to criminal activity and a pIace of refuge. I hope that women and girls feel reassured in the knowledge that if they feel unsafe, they can activate the camera and speak to someone directly in the control room.”
Lee Anderson MP said: “This is fantastic news for the residents of Sutton Central and New Cross who have for far too long been left behind and forgotten about.”
“Since being elected I have worked closely with local police, along with residents of the Sutton and the New Cross area to make it a safer place. A massive thank you to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Caroline Henry, who has been brilliant throughout and has secured £550,00 funding by working with myself the Home Secretary to make sure the residents of the area are not forgotten about.”
Safer Streets funding is currently being used in various parts of the county and city improve CCTV provision and street lighting, and to prevent certain types of crime. Mansfield and Newark now have dedicated burglary reduction officers who are liaising with former burglary victims and their neighbours and offering free security improvements to put potential offenders further on the back foot.
