New town CCTV system is agreed

MODERN CCTV cameras will be purchased and installed around key areas in the town, following years of town council discussion over a much-needed new system. Melksham police say the new CCTV system could be a helpful deterrent to crime.

The town’s CCTV system was set up in 2014, but since 2020 it has been described as being in “desperate need of investment,” with improved coverage needed. In 2021, a new sophisticated system was discussed by councillors and money put aside following police recommendations. Council discussions have continued during the years since; in 2022 the council purchased two mobile CCTV cameras, but these have not been used.

Local campaigner, Colin Goodhind, who also served on the town council, has repeatedly called for a new system to be introduced.

Now, councillors have agreed to invest in upgrading and expanding the system, by the end of May, by purchasing and installing 26 new cameras at a cost of £29,712. The decision was taken at the full town council meeting on Monday 18th March.
Currently, there are six cameras in operation around the town centre and the new cameras are due to be installed by the end of May at the following locations: Market Place, Lowbourne Roundabout, Sainsbury’s Roundabout, Bank Street, Church Street, Church Street Car Park, Avon Place, Stratton’s Walk, King Street, King Street Car Park, looking down towards Spa Road, Church Walk and Bath Road Car Park.

An independent consultant was appointed by the town council last year to advise on the potential options, and a number of recommendations as to how to proceed were made.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, who put forward the motion, said the new cameras do not need someone to monitor them at all hours of the day and the equipment will be installed by security contractor, Kan Connections.

“It will provide an opportunity for the police to be able to look retrospectively at things that have happened, gain intelligence from that and be able to detect, make arrests where appropriate, and help keep the town as safe as it can be for residents,” explained cllr Hubbard.

Cllr Phil Alford voted against the scheme, raising concerns around a lack of evidence for the need of additional CCTV cameras. He also had concerns around the cost of the cameras, specifically with a councillor’s motion being used to spend money on such projects, without the work being done by officers first.

“I don’t think it’s good practice,” he explained. “I am not for this one, as I am not convinced by the evidence and I don’t think it’s an appropriate route to go down. I’d rather it went through the clerk, then the clerk come back and we go out on an open tender on it.”

Residential monitoring

In January 2022, the town council purchased two mobile CCTV cameras for use in areas of high anti-social behaviour, at a cost of £13,000.

Former councillor, Colin Goodhind, who led the deployable CCTV project took the cameras away last May, to test the technology and returned them to the council in July. However, the council did not install the cameras anywhere and came under fire for a ‘lack of movement on the project.’

Cllr Charlie Stokes asked if the mobile cameras are part of this scheme and whether they could be installed in a residential area such as Melksham East, particularly following a sexual assault that happened there, earlier this month.

However, cllr Phil Alford did not agree with this and had ‘concerns’ with installing cameras in private residential areas.

Cllr Jon Hubbard echoed cllr Alford’s opinion about residential monitoring. He said the technology could block out areas in which the cameras should not pick up, such as people’s houses. He also said residents would have the right to ask for CCTV cameras not to point at their properties.

Police support

Melksham police sergeant, Gemma Rutter, who was present at the meeting, supported the scheme and said CCTV could be a helpful deterrent to crime. “CCTV in an area does tend to put suspects off committing offences. For myself and my team, it helps us detect [crime]. It is a balancing act and we do have to look at the number of offences in each area. I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

The town’s CCTV project has previously been worked on by former councillor, Colin Goodhind who resigned at the end of last year.

Thanking him for his work, cllr Jon Hubbard said, “When I came onto this council in 2008, I was asked if I wanted to sit on the CCTV working group and whilst we have made some steps forward in that time, we have never really brought the matter to a full conclusion. I would like to take the opportunity to pay credit to former cllr Goodhind who has put in an incredible amount of effort over the years in trying to move CCTV forward.”

Melksham’s mayor, cllr Simon Crundell, said, “I am glad that after 16 years of planning CCTV in the town, we have taken action to provide a service that has clear support from both the police and local businesses.”

Funds from the existing CCTV reserve will be used, with a portion allocated for future expansions like additional coverage for the town’s underpass. £2,288 will go back into the general reserves budget.