Talking CCTV arrives in Railway Village

By Sarah Hilley

THE Railway Village is likely to join Penhill as one of the first areas to get talking CCTV.

Residents came face to face with the town’s own Big Brother today at the Central Community Centre.

But there were mixed reactions to its possible deployment.

The black swivelling sphere-shaped camera allows council staff at the Waterside CCTV station to see all with a 360-degree view.

The camera will be attached to a lamppost with microphones placed around it.

It barked out warnings yesterday to bemused spectators and reprimanded Coun David Renard, who dropped a piece of litter to test out the technology.

It scolded: “Will the gentleman with the red jacket please refrain from throwing chewing gum.”

Council policy and regeneration manager Mark Walker said the cameras are likely to be deployed in the Railway Village and Fleet Street area.

If the council is contacted about a problem in a certain area, the camera will be set up there.

“Our CCTV camera operators can use the system more proactively if people are acting in a suspicious manner. It will issue a warning that will stop them in the first place,” he said.

The council has ordered three cameras, which are expected to arrive in two weeks and they will be deployed straight away.

One of the advantages is they can be moved rapidly from place to place because they communicate via a wireless network.

The council is also considering placing them on cars allowing the streets to be patrolled.

Resident Noreen Wise, 75, feared the talking camera would create noise pollution.

“If the cameras shout in the middle of the night, it will wake us up,” she said.

“Would you like a thing booming in the middle of the night?”

Rosemany Chatfield, 55, of Faringdon Road, believes the extra CCTV will help elderly people feel safer.

She said: “It will be safer for the older generation as people over 70 need to feel more secure.”

Company 802 Global is supplying the camera.

“The use of wireless means the cameras can be moved around quickly so they can follow the crime rather than offenders moving away from it,” said sales and marketing director Tim Close.

Coun David Renard said: “We have a significant interest in the area as it is a heritage site and there is an anti-social problem. The CCTV camera is part of our efforts to help. It is a mobile camera, so if there is a problem, we’ll bring it down.”

The talking CCTV showcase was part of a week-long initiative designed to show council tenants what services are available to them.

A repairs amnesty has been running throughout the week, which has seen council maintenance workers carrying out minor repairs to tenants’ homes such as broken windows. The council has also run a rubbish amnesty and safe and clean day to spruce up the area.

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