Full council to consider CCTV camera proposals

A Surrey council's executive has agreed proposals to upgrade CCTV cameras in 22 town centre locations.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council also said it would remain open to the possibility that further locations would be identified for new cameras.

The new cameras will be in addition to 39 devices installed in multi-storey car parks and Lady Neville, Memorial and Priory Parks last year, bringing the total number of upgraded cameras to 61.

The plans, which will be considered at a full council meeting later, are a result of work by the authority to review its public CCTV system before cameras earmarked for decommissioning in 2020 were removed.

A public petition received in January 2024 and research undertaken by the Safer Redhill partnership showed CCTV cameras can make people feel safer, the authority said.

Council Leader Richard Biggs said: “We want people to be safe and feel safer and we recognise that CCTV can play a part in this.

“Council officers have worked with the police to review the most recent data showing where CCTV images are most likely to be requested and where there is less alternative coverage from privately-owned cameras such as mobile phones and dash cams.

“The new cameras, like the ones installed last year, would record high quality images that can be available to the police and other parties on request to support evidence gathering and prosecution.

Mr Biggs said the evidence did not justify live monitoring being reinstated and the police had "no plans" to reopen their CCTV control room.

The proposals also recommend the council continues with the decommissioning of the remaining out-of-date cameras which the council said were rarely used.

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