SECURITY cameras are helping to curb crime and keep people safe, latest figures have confirmed.
Knutsford Town Council resolved to renew a funding agreement to ensure a proactively monitored CCTV system continues to operate in the town centre.
Cheshire East Council (CEC) has requested £43,785 towards the cost of operating CCTV cameras in the town centre for the next three years.
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The annual cost is £14,595, which is equivalent to 21p a month for a band D property.
Since 2014, the council has contributed towards the cost of operating seven cameras on columns in the town centre.
The surveillance system covers King Street, Canute Place, Tatton Street, Princess Street, Adam’s Hill, Hollow Lane and Toft Road.
Each camera has a customised tour programme, meaning it pans and zooms into different areas.
Each camera can be overridden by an operator and once they stop controlling it, it reverts to the tour.
Three cameras on car parks in Princess Street, Tatton Street and King Street are funded by CEC.
In a report requesting funding, CEC said: “Our proactive CCTV operators have been able to provide police and other enforcement agencies with vital evidence over the last year to ensure our areas are as safe as they can be.
“Throughout 2022/23, we’ve dealt with 1,191 incidents per month.
“We are investing a quarter of a million into new CCTV infrastructure.”
Town mayor Cllr Peter Coan told members at a full council meeting: “It is insurance.
“The majority of the time CCTV is just working in the background.
“But if it is removed, will Knutsford become a haven for shoplifters?
“Will we see more anti-social behaviour?
“This is suppressed to low levels because we have got CCTV. “
CEC has a CCTV control room in Macclesfield which monitors all 156 cameras in the borough.
This is staffed by at least two operatives 24 hours a day, one covering the south area and the other watching the northern section.
If they see a crime, they report it directly to the police control room and an incident number is recorded.
It is down to Cheshire Police whether they pursue the crime.
Cllr April Johnson told councillors: “We were fortunate to meet a couple of chaps that run this service.
“It was great to see they are so passionate and hard working.
“They know Knutsford inside out.”
Town clerk Adam Keppel-Green said: “The relationship between the police and the CCTV team is good.
“Operators are in direct contact with the police control room.
“It is down to the police how they act on intelligence given.
CEC currently has two temporary cameras which can be deployed to different locations.
For many years, the town council has requested a temporary camera to monitor the Moor to address anti-social behaviour.
However, CEC says this has never reached the top of the deployment list owing to other areas having more serious crimes.
Another factor is the low level of reports to the police in respect of anti-social behaviour on the Moor.
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