South Gloucestershire Council continues to invest in improving CCTV monitoring, as outlined in its budget pledge in February. As a result, Safer South Gloucestershire has been working closely with its partners in the police to secure several positive outcomes.
Chief Inspector Tim Harris said: "CCTV continues to contribute to making the people of South Gloucestershire feel safe, and be safe. It is a valuable tool for police both in terms of deterring crime and in providing evidence for officers investigating offences.
“We welcome the support of Safer South Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Council’s investment in CCTV systems across the area. This is paying dividends in helping officers deal effectively with crimes including assault, alcohol-related offending and criminal damage.
“The monitored system also enables an early response by officers to prevent potential problems of disorder and to locate and identify vulnerable persons.”
CCTV evidence has been crucial in the following examples:
1. A fight in Hanham involving two individuals who were armed with offensive weapons. The police interviewed witnesses and were then able to identify the perpetrators from the CCTV footage, which led to two arrests.
2. Cameras at Patchway Fire Station recorded an assault in which the perpetrators were able to be identified and the police were able to establish that they were the same individuals that had been involved in several other attacks in the area. As a result, two females were successfully charged in relation to these incidents.
3. CCTV evidence was crucial in identifying an offender regarding a fight which took place in Kingswood in May, and when the individual concerned was arrested and shown the CCTV footage they admitted to the assault charge.
4. In June, criminal damage was carried out to a motor vehicle parked outside a fast food outlet in Broad Street, Staple Hill. The CCTV footage shows the offence taking place and the suspect being arrested. Police said he was too drunk to remember the incident but when shown the CCTV footage he later admitted it was him.
Rhodri Briggs is employed as a CCTV officer for Safer South Gloucestershire and has praised partnership working across the district in the fight against crime.
He said: “These successful outcomes would not have been possible without the help and proactive support of the CCTV operators at the Bristol control centre. This is a powerful example of partnership working between the CCTV staff, the local police, South Gloucestershire Council and residents in helping to make our communities safer.”
Safer South Gloucestershire’s community safety and substance misuse manager Olwen Kelly, added: “CCTV is proving a useful tool alongside the wide range of measures we are currently using to reduce crime and to reassure the public that South Gloucestershire continues to be a safe place to live and work.”
ENDS