CCTV boost in fight against street crime

Officers today said the agreement, which allows them to access live feed from the council’s 110 cameras, will prove a "valuable tool" in the fight against crime.

But human rights campaigners voiced concerns that the move amounted to a "Big Brother"-style invasion of privacy.

Over the past year the council has added an extra 46 cameras to its system, which police have hailed as a major success in tackling crime and hunting for missing people.

Under the new initiative, police will receive a live feed from the cameras 24 hours a day whereas previously they could only view the images on tape.

This means they can spot incidents and act on them as soon as they happen.

The 17-strong team manning the cameras, including seconded officers from Lothian and Borders Police, said the system has proved helpful in tracking down missing people. Within a ten-month period they located more than 50 missing people.

Between February and December 2003, cameras recorded nearly 7000 incidents, with nearly 1000 arrests made as a consequence and more than 1300 police warnings issued.

Chief Superintendent Allan Shanks said: "CCTV is another tool in the toolbox and, when used in conjunction with other activities, it is a valuable aid to community safety. There are many good examples where CCTV has been used to detect crimes in progress and to assist in deploying resources."

Donald Urquhart, the city’s anti-social behaviour "tsar", said he was delighted with the deal. "Whilst the council’s CCTV facility has gone from strength to strength, today makes clear the real benefits the facility can have for businesses and agencies across the city," he said.

"The importance of CCTV in the detection and prevention of crime cannot be underestimated, and these agreements will further boost our ability to effectively tackle these problems."

Lothian Buses has also entered into an agreement with the council for limited use of the CCTV facilities. The agreement allows the company to use the cameras to monitor traffic congestion and any potential delays for buses, as well as gather information about bus breakdowns.

Canmore Housing Association, which has also joined the scheme, recently installed CCTV cameras in Duff Street. These cameras will be monitored as an integral part of the council’s citywide network of cameras.

The association said its tenants will be much safer as a result of the move.

Canmore chief executive Alan Brown said: "The CCTV system at Duff Street, delivered by our community initiatives team, is an integrated element of local area regeneration that includes new housing and play facilities.

"By recognising and exploiting opportunities to develop a wider role in communities we intend to have a significant and positive impact on the areas in which we operate."

But one leading human rights activist branded the move excessive and said it posed a serious threat to people’s privacy.

Rosemary McIlwhan, director of the Scottish Human Rights Centre, said: "The benefits of CCTV are unproven. Any interference with privacy rights must be proportionate and I think this scheme strikes the wrong balance."