CCTV upgrade in Highlands

A NEW upgraded CCTV system linking six of the largest population centres in the Highlands will make residents feel safer and help police catch offenders, it is claimed.

The Highland Council has spent 200,000 upgrading the network of 49 cameras serving Inverness, Nairn, Dingwall, Fort William, Tain and Thurso using digital recording systems.

Drew McFarlane Slack, chairman of the Highland Strategic CCTV Network, said: "One major advantage of the new system is that staff no longer need to spend many hours reviewing video tapes for evidence. A new digital process allows operators to find and review past incidents by simply punching in the earlier time and dates requested by the police."

Janet Home, convener of Northern Joint Police Board, said: "This upgrade means we can continue to provide a first-class service to the people of the major communities in Highland. The new system has already proven its worth."