An independent review has found Melksham’s CCTV system has been failing since it was installed, with cameras regularly dropping offline, producing poor-quality images, recording audio without the public’s knowledge, and failing to record incidents.
The report was commissioned after CCTV footage was missing of a collision in which Melksham woman Cheryl Decarteret was killed last September.
The technical review, carried out by Smart Integrated Solutions, examined the town’s 77 CCTV cameras, which are managed by Melksham Town Council.
The report stated, “A brief analysis of the system identified it was slow to respond, with cameras dropping connection completely or not responding in a timely manner, creating glitchy, blurred, pixelated images. It was confirmed that this has been normal since the installation commenced and was completed in October 2024.
“The system is not actively monitored with system operation being limited to a reactive response, rather than actively monitoring public safety and providing real-time support to the authorities.”
Wireless connectivity was identified as a cause of the failures. Cameras operate on a 5GHz wireless network, and the council has been urged to upgrade to 60GHz to provide a connection with minimal interference.
Audio recording was also found to be active on many cameras, despite there being no requirement for audio monitoring and no signage informing members of the public.
The report also raises concerns about the CCTV control room at the town hall, describing it as “disjointed” and “not ergonomic”.
The report was discussed at an extraordinary Full Council meeting on 2nd February.
Unanswered questions
In a statement, the family of Cheryl Decarteret said the report raised unanswered questions. Family members were present at the meeting.
A spokesperson for the family said, “We welcome this report and hope the council implements all the recommendations so that the people of Melksham have a CCTV system that is robust and fit for purpose.
“However, we are still waiting for answers as to who was responsible for not taking action when the council first became aware that the system was failing back in 2024, when it was first installed, as stated by Councillor Phil Alford at the Exceptional Full Council meeting on Monday 2nd February 2026.
“We also ask why the company that installed this system, at a cost of almost £30,000 of Melksham residents’ money, has not been required to rectify these issues.”
At the meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to fit SD cards to all cameras and to upgrade antennas between the town hall and Sainsbury’s roundabout.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Adrienne Westbrook said the council had been left to “pick up the pieces” following the original procurement of the system.
“This council now has been left to try and pull this together, pick up what’s happened and I think we have all managed to unpick what has happened,” she said. “This should never have happened.”
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