Secret CCTV cuts 'beggar belief'

11.58.05am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 5th Sep 2009

Cotswold District Council's Conservatives were condemned today for cutting CCTV coverage in secret.

Cirencester's CCTV monitoring has been cut by half, according to information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. And it was done behind closed doors, leaving opposition councillors and residents shaking their heads in disbelief.

A Cirencester victim of a vicious attack earlier this year has been so incensed at the lack of CCTV coverage in the town that he has passed damning information to the Lib Dem leader on CDC Paul Hodgkinson. "This man deserves our gratitude for what he has uncovered," said Cllr Hodgkinson (Churn Valley). "He has discovered that the new CCTV monitoring contract cuts the hours by a staggering 50%. This beggars belief and is despite the recent attacks on people and the terrible death of a young man. How many more people have to be threatened or attacked before we get adequate CCTV coverage?"

Cllr Hodgkinson is worried that Cirencester is losing out to other towns that have far better crime surveillance, "Other towns have 24 hour monitoring. For instance, nearby Witney has round the clock coverage. CDC has taken the decision to have closer ties with West Oxfordshire but no-one in the administration seems to be learning from the Witney experience. If a market town like this can do it, why can't we? A well monitored scheme coupled with a good police presence on the streets acts as a deterrent to crime and reassures the public."

The secrecy around the CCTV deal has only raised concerns, according to Cllr Hodgkinson, "Why can't we debate safety in the open? The Cabinet met in private session, excluding the press and public, to agree this contract. I call on them now to review their decision urgently and to listen to Cirencester residents who want proper protection from crime."