CCTV needs support (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CCTV needs support

1:44pm Friday 21st April 2006 in Chippenham By Zoë Mills

THE MAN who took over the running of Chippenham's ailing CCTV network has said he needs support from retailers to make it a success.

Former policeman Brian Hinton, who owns Trowbridge-based South and West Security, said the sophisticated system was vital to the town.

Last week he met retailers to give them an insight into how it operates and to launch his new Shopwatch brainwave.

But few traders turned up, and he's scheduled another event on Wednesday to give those who missed it another opportunity.

Mr Hinton said: "It's always a problem when you are starting something new. Everybody has flashbacks to the way it used to be, and say it will never work.

"It is very difficult to push people outside of their safety boxes to help make a difference.

"We were hoping to get a lot more support and help from people in the town, but it hasn't happened."

Shopwatch is designed to help reduce crime and disorder in the town centre and protect traders from fraudsters.

Chippenham has 30 cameras, which had been paid for by the town council at a cost of £85,000 a year.

But last year it decided to axe the funding, saying it was fed up with a lack of support from those who benefited including police and businesses.

Fears grew that crime would rise in the town as the cameras would have been unmonitored apart from at peak times.

But Mr Hinton stepped in at last minute to save the system in March.

He said he'd already had a number of successes, including when he spotted a potential robbery at Westmead Lane.

"I saw it and managed to stop a lad taking a necklace from another boy," he said. "I told them we were watching them. It's amazing how quickly word gets around."