Newark and Sherwod Cut CCTV Costs

Newark and Sherwod District Council cuts CCTV costs by 39% since 2010, official figures confirm.

22:08 04 February 2019

Official figures have revealed that Newark and Sherwood District Council has spent £251,000 on CCTV in 2018. The amount was 39per cent less since 2010 when the annual bill was £414,000. This year, the council’s CCTV budget has been reduced to just £116,000.

 

Meanwhile, the report also revealed that Leeds was the highest spender last year with a CCTV cost of £4million. There were five other councils that spent more than £1million during the same period.

 

The LGA’s Simon Blackburn said: “CCTV plays a vital role in protecting the public by dissuading crime and anti-social behaviour, assisting police officers on the ground and supporting prosecutions for offences ranging from fly-tipping and traffic violations to acts of theft, robbery and serious violence.

 

“CCTV also reduces costs to the public purse as anyone caught committing an offence on camera is likely to plead guilty, saving time on trials.”

 

However, Big Brother Watch director Silkie Carlo thinks that the use of CCTV is a waste of money. He said: “Research consistently shows that public cameras are ineffective at deterring, preventing or even solving crime, but that too much CCTV does curb citizens’ freedom.

 

“Surveillance is no substitute for policing, and this will prove to be a terrible waste of money.”