CCTV and Security Overhaul for Hanley

A £432K investment in CCTV and security gates is se to improve safety in Hanley city centre.

07:18 26 October 2021

A £432K security upgrade scheme will see the installation of new CCTV cameras and security gates in four Hanely streets. A part of the investment will also be used on other crime prevention measures as local authorities work on improving safety and increasing the security of the areas. 

 

Staffordshire's police, fire and crime commissioner's office confirmed that the investment from the Safer Streets Funds is aimed at reducing crimes like burglary, robbery and theft in hotspot areas. 

 

Security improvements that will be carried out will include the installation of 16 new CCTV cameras and 40 new lighting columns in car parks and poorly lit alleyways as well as the fitting of gates and fences. 

 

Rob McManus owns Vera Dry Cleaners, on Stafford Lane, welcomed the scheme and said: "It will help because we've always had problems in Stafford Lane.

 

"Where our business is it's a bit quieter and it does attract drug addicts and drunks who congregate there.

 

"The alleyway to our business off Tontine Street into Stafford Lane is used for drug dealing or urinating and it's so off putting for the customers who come in and say 'have you seen him in the alleyway?' and it's bound to put them off coming to Hanley again.

 

"Closing off the alleyways at night will make it safer and we also won't have the mess in the mornings that is left behind.

 

"My opinion is more PCSOs need to be on the streets to just keep clearing undesirables from the main shopping centre. I don't know where they're going to put them, but we need to get them out of the main shopping areas.

 

"It's so important to encourage people back in to town. People seeing beggars, drunks and druggies will just put them off. It's intimidating.

 

"But what they are doing is a good step in the right direction."