Council keen on new CCTV plans
CRIMINALS operating in Dunmow High Street will have to contend with being watched by a new state-of-the-art CCTV system, if the town council gets its way. Currently, cameras operating in the town centre record footage but it is not being monitored as equi
CRIMINALS operating in Dunmow High Street will have to contend with being watched by a new state-of-the-art CCTV system, if the town council gets its way.
Currently, cameras operating in the town centre record footage but it is not being monitored as equipment in the old police station on Stortford Road is no longer being used.
However, a town council-led initiative has enlisted the help of volunteers to view footage on screen in real time and report any incidents to police - providing the equipment to do so can be relocated.
Town clerk Owen Wilson said: "Volunteers can only be used if the monitoring equipment is moved to Foakes House, mainly because volunteers cannot work on their own in the old police station."
Uttlesford District Council invited representatives from the three main towns in the district (Stansted, Saffron Walden and Dunmow), the police, and CCTV company ADT to a meeting on May 12.
The idea was to allow ADT to give a presentation on how a new system could improve town centre security at day and at night.
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Dunmow Town Council is enthusiastic about the ideas brought up and has enquired about adding wireless technology so that a monitoring centre can be set up anywhere, although it would depend on the costs involved.
"We would like to see the new CCTV system in Dunmow given full priority by the police and the district council because the location of the current monitoring equipment will be up for sale soon," said Mr Wilson.
"It depends on the final cost, but with security being better in the town centre we would maybe expect the chamber of commerce to help with finance as it would lower shop owners insurance premiums."
District councillor for Dunmow John Davey said that he thought it was exactly what the town needed and urged for more progress in acquiring a new system.
"Hopefully it will not be too long before we have the system fully installed and up and running. It will be good that the cameras will be able to function very well at night," he said.
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