Increased CCTV for Devizes

More CCTV will be installed in Devizes to help tackle anti-social behaviour and help residents feel safer especially at night.

01:38 09 March 2023

Wiltshire Council has confirmed plans to install additional CCTV in the Devizes area due to growing concerns about anti-social behaviour and reports that residents are not feeling safe at night. 

PC Sarah Hardwidge, a neighbourhood policing officer, said that while she is positive about the plans, she understood that some local residents are concerned.

She said: “I think the community are concerned and some of the shopkeepers I’ve spoken to don’t like being out after dark locking up because they are concerned there are gangs walking about.

“It’s a particular small group of young people and we are working with those individuals.

“It will take time to solve but we will solve it. All of the children and young people who have been arrested are working with the youth justice system to be rehabilitated and have their behaviour steered in a positive way.”

CCTV manager Noel Woolrych was adamant Devizes is a safe town, but is clamping down on areas of anti-social behaviour with additional cameras. He said: “The main reason for cameras at those locations is anti-social behaviour, particularly at Station Road car park,” 

“There have been a couple of serious incidents and there are areas of youth activity and pockets of drug dealing which are causing a problem.

“We want to mitigate it, but it is not unique to Devizes and it’s just a small number of youngsters making a nuisance of themselves.”