West End letters: CCTV | Martin Kennedy | Cllr Daniel Astaire

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 14 August 2009

Cameras are up and running

I wish to clarify a number of issues raised in a letter you published from Martin Kennedy on CCTV (Question of public safety on hold, August 7).
First Mr Kennedy said that he was concerned about the decommissioning of our two CCTV vans.
While CCTV is a powerful tool to help prevent and tackle crime it is not itself a panacea. We only deploy cameras when we have good reason to believe they will make a tangible difference. Staffing and running the vans was costing up to £120,000 a year and we think this money can be put to much better use.
The vans used old technology and our new wireless system, together with the recently purchased mobile police station, are far more effective.
Secondly, Mr Kennedy stated that the council had shut down its entire network of fixed CCTV cameras.
I would like to allay Mr Kennedy’s concerns that our CCTV cameras have not been turned off and are very much up and running.
We are currently carrying out upgrade work for our parking CCTV cameras but this does not in any way affect our main CCTV network which is used to prevent crime and keep Westminster residents, businesses and visitors safe.
Cllr Daniel Astaire
Cabinet Member for Community Safety

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
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Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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