Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – CCTV Provision meeting held on 25 March 2014 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – CCTV Provision meeting on 28 March 2014 be held as a correct record.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of any interest were received.

The Group will consider the following information that will be tabled at the meeting:

·         Detailed analyst of the current CCTV provision in Chorley undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership’s Analyst

·         Consultation responses from the Parish Councils

·         Results of the Crime survey undertaken by members of the public on the Council’s website.

The Neighbourhoods Team Manager presented an analytical report that had recently been undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership’s Analyst. The report sought to provide analysis of the Council’s CCTV usage, crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough of Chorley, so that informed decisions could be made in relation to tasking and allocating resources effectively.

The report had been prepared by utilising data from Chorley’s CCTV Operator Log and Lancashire Constabulary’s crime recording and intelligence systems between 1 June and 31 December 2013.

The following key findings, inferences, conclusions and recommendations were made:

·         There were 1041 operator logs during this period

·         There were 127 requests to provide retained evidence and 335 requests made to review footage

·         The greatest number of CCTV operator logs related to assaults which accounted for 12.9% of logs; 63.2% of these were requested by the police.

·         The three hour periods of the week when must logs were created between the hours of 00.00 and 2.59 on Sunday

·         There were 1776 crimes recorded in the incident locations where a camera is situated during the seven month period

·         Staffing levels could be increased on Wednesday and Saturday evening.

The Group also received a report giving a brief summary of finding relating to a national study that had been undertaken by the Home Office to evaluate the effectiveness of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).

The report summarised the findings of the following CCTV effectiveness studies:

·         The Home Office Research Study 292 – Assessing the impact of CCTV

·         The Home Office Research Study 252 – Crime prevention effects of closed circuit television; a systematic review

·         The Scottish Government: Crime and Criminal Justice Research Findings No:8 (1995) – Does Closed circuit television prevent crime

Members discussed all the information received in detail. It was noted that there have been many different research studies conducted which have aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CCTV but that it was difficult to quantify its effectiveness with a broad brush approach. Advice given directly from the Home Office indicated that authorities were best to evaluate their need in response to local issues and concerns.

Recommendation:

1.  That the hours of CCTV operation in the Chorley Borough be reviewed.

2.  That the siting of the CCTV cameras be reviewed.

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – CCTV Provision will be held on 15 May 2014 at 2pm in Committee Room