CCTV upgraded at city centre car park

More CCTV cameras have been added to a city centre car park to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Hull City Council said 14 cameras, costing £46,975.23, were fitted to stairwells at Osborne Street Car Park.

The council-owned facility has been blighted by anti-social behaviour since opening in 2018.

The cameras were paid for by the office of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison.

According to the council, 50 pre-existing CCTV cameras have had software upgrades.

Kerry Ryan, Hull City Council's head of transport and traffic management, said the funding has helped them make "substantial improvements" to security at the car park.

She said: "By having a comprehensive and integrated CCTV network, we can now maintain a higher level of vigilance, ensuring a safer environment for all car park users.

"We hope these safety enhancements will not only deter anti-social behaviour but also make the car park more welcoming for residents and visitors alike."

Tracy Harsley, assistant director for Citysafe at the council, said residents and visitors had long expressed "serious concern" about safety at the car park, adding funding from the PCC's office had enabled the authority to "tackle these concerns head-on".

Mr Evison said: "I am delighted to have supported the installation of CCTV cameras to ensure residents and visitors can feel safe using the car park in the city.

"The cameras will help deter anti-social behaviour from happening in the area, as well as ensuring the car park users can feel safer."

Last year, the BBC reported it had found drug paraphernalia, blood and soiled duvets at the site.

And in 2022, human waste and beer cans were found in the stairwells, leading to councillors branding the site a "disgrace".

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