AN award-winning retired detective has added his voice to the rising tide of concern over Warrington Borough Council’s suggestion that monitoring of town centre CCTV cameras should cease to save about £110,000 a year.
Chris Upham, who received the MBE in 2012 for voluntary services to the National Association of Retired Police Officers, said: “We all know the dire financial straits we are in and we know for years to come we will be paying more and getting less. But making our town centre more dangerous is not something that should even be considered.
“Every resident of Warrington and the surrounding area, every town centre business whether bar, shop or take away, every taxi or Uber driver, absolutely everyone should be concerned about Warrington Borough Council considering stopping the monitoring of the town centre CCTV.”
Mr Upham, who served in Warrington, added: “Many will remember that dreadful day in 1993 when the IRA bombed Bridge Street killing Tim Parry and Jonathan Ball. It was in the wake of that, that WBC installed the cameras and they have proved their worth on a daily basis since then.
“In the last year alone over 3,500 incidents were observed by camera operators and reported to police and as a result over 600 offenders were arrested. That sort of action contributes greatly to the safety of everyone visiting the town centre.
“And it’s not just night time it’s all day long. “Anti social behaviour, idiots racing through the town centre on electric bikes and scooters, shoplifting, pickpockets, phone snatchers, drunken behaviour etc. The camera operators contribute greatly to sorting much of that activity out. Without them the town centre will be more dangerous day and night.
“I believe at night time the situation could become very serious and pose great risk for women and girls. We know from experience that violent assaults, sexual assaults, rape and public disorder are more prevalent at night. There aren’t enough police to be everywhere and cameras are essential to assist them. The Chief Constable has expressed his concerns. If people stay away from the town centre because of the dangers then the, already struggling night time economy will go into decline which will not be good for our local economy.
“I don’t believe it is untoward to suggest that not observing the cameras will lead to a lot more people becoming victims of crime, often serious crime. A lot will suffer physical and mental injury and a lot of offenders will get away without consequence. It is no exaggeration to say this act a civic irresponsibility would have dire consequences for our town and I hope councillors realise this and step back from the precipice.
“If you share my concerns, make your voice heard. Go to the Warrington Borough Council website where you will find the e mail address of your local councillor, tell them what you think. Spread the word to others who may not have access to social media and express your views on your news feeds. There is also an online petition. As much pressure as possible needs to be put on the councillors who will make the final decision on 2nd March.
“And maybe as many of us as possible should attend outside the Town Hall on the evening of 2nd March to impress our concerns on councillors as they enter for their decision making meeting.”
Cheshire’s Chief Constable, Mark Roberts, has already expressed his concern over proposal to end monitoring of CCTV in Warrington town centre and warned it would result in an increase in crime levels.
An online petition has also been launched and you can vote at https://www.change.org/p/protect-our-town-centre-don-t-leave-warrington-s-cctv-unmanned?
