NORWICH: Families' victory in battle to get CCTV

Families' victory in battle to get CCTV

Families fed up with their community being ruined by anti-social behaviour have been handed a boost - their area is in line to get CCTV cameras to help catch yobs and troublemakers.

A petition of more than 350 signatures was handed in to Norwich City Council this week calling for cameras to be provided in Clover Hill.

Councillors have agreed there was a problem and acknowledged the area should be one of the top on the list when the next round of money is spent on new cameras.

Labour councillor Brenda Ferris, initiated the petition after Bowthorpe shopkeepers went to her for advice about increasing anti-social behaviour in the area.

She said: “I went to the community safety panel and discussed it with other councillors and we wanted to put pressure on the council to get some cameras for Clover Hill.”

Mr Little, Conservative leader on the city council and ward member for Bowthorpe, presented the petition at the full council meeting last night.

He said: “There has been a great response from local people and, with the support of local councillors and the police, Clover Hill must be first in line when new CCTV funding is announced.”

Mr Little said problems included vandalism of shops, abusive behaviour, shoplifting and a number of violent attacks.

He added: “These are attacks that could, maybe, have been avoided if security and lighting were better. We need to be proactive in our response to this. If CCTV were strategically placed with the centre it could provide the police with the evidence they require, local people with a sense of safety and a reason for people to use this once bustling centre.”

However, while in favour of the petition, Labour councillor Bert Bremner, executive member for community safety and community cohesion, said the council must ensure it could afford the cameras.

The move fits in with the Evening News' Reclaim Our Communities campaign, which was backed by former prime minister Tony Blair and calls on communities to join forces to combat anti-social behaviour. The council is still putting the finishing touches to a scheme which will see talking CCTV cameras installed in Eaton Park.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED28%20Sep%202007%2009%3A18%3A57%3A767