Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Safety and the Director of Environment and Community Services submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to request capital funding to develop CCTV in alleys and hot spot areas throughout Middlesbrough to reduce crime, antisocial behaviour (ASB) and environmental crime.

 

On 23 February 2021, the Executive had approved £50,000 to increase CCTV across the town. The Executive also approved a further £350,000, following receipt of a report outlining the benefits of the initial £50,000.

 

The benefits of the initial £50,000 were set out in the submitted report.

 

11 cameras had been installed, utilising the £50,000, in the following areas:

 

·         Netherfields Crescent;

·         Chesterwood;

·         Harford Street Alley;

·         Addington Drive;

·         Portman Street;

·         Thorntree Park;

·         Rear of Pallister Avenue/ Longlands Road;

·         Saltersgill Avenue;

·         Northern Road;

·         Bramwith Avenue; and

·         Centre Square.

 

Crime and ASB in those locations was 139 prior to the CCTV being installed and was now 119.

 

In addition to the instillation of the 11 cameras, 42 cameras had been installed by utilising grant funding (Safer Streets Funding) in the Newport ward. Crime and ASB levels reduced by 19.7% after instillation of the cameras and perceptions of local residents had improved significantly over recent months.

 

A Locality Working survey conducted in H2 2020-21 and then again in H1 2021-22 had indicated that perceptions of feeling safe in their neighbourhood improved by 33.16% alongside people intending to remain in the ward over 3 years increasing by 38.84%.

 

Information relating to suspected criminal behaviour captured using the installed CCTV, had been passed to the police for further investigation on 419 occasions. 192 of those occasions had resulted in further action and the police had used that evidence to bring offenders to justice.

 

A large number of fly tipping incidents had been captured with the assistance of CCTV, which resulted in enforcement action being taken.

 

Residents and local businesses had said that they felt safer having CCTV in their neighbourhood.

 

A Member made a query in respect of the process that Ward Councillors needed to follow in order to apply for permanent CCTV cameras to be installed in specific areas. In response, the Director of Environment and Community Services explained that the request could be sent directly to him. Members heard that cameras were assigned to areas based on data (e.g. crime maps and those with high incidences of ASB).

 

OPTIONS

Continuing with the current approach would not have achieved the best possible results.

 

ORDERED

 

That the remaining capital funding of £350,000 be released for CCTV provision in Middlesbrough.

 

REASON

 

To enable the team to meet strategic and mayoral priorities to tackle crime and ASB head on.

 

CCTV would enable the team to gather intelligence on the worst affected areas, increasing the opportunity of a successful prosecution of perpetrators.