Residents in CCTV plea

Russell Steele Russell Steele - 1627 • Published 25 Mar 2008 16:30 0 Comments

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CAMPAIGNERS will step up their battle for CCTV cameras after the area"s shocking crime statistics were exposed.

Resident Robert Kyle submitted a Freedom of Information request to Strathclyde Police as he researched his bid for a permanent camera on East Crawford Street in Greenock's east end - and was left stunned by the reply.

It outlined an appalling list of reported crime between April 2006 and March 2007 which included two rapes, two attempted murders, 10 serious assaults, over a dozen housebreakings plus robbery, breach of the peace, drugs, vandalism and car crime.

Mr Kyle said: 'If these figures do not justify the deployment of fixed CCTV facilities, then an explanation to east end residents should be forthcoming from Inverclyde Council.' Council chiefs told Mr Kyle last year their current CCTV operation was running at capacity.

But the campaigners are now set to take their fight for cameras to the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Kyle said: 'If people feel CCTV could solve their problems it should be installed. If not, then is the council going to pay for the damage done to our cars?'

Sheila MacKay, who has lived in the east end for 43 years, told the Tele: 'I only feel safer at night when it"s rotten weather. There is a real need for cameras here.' Mr Kyle has now lodged a public petition at Holyrood.

He said: 'There"s an attitude of "you make a request, the council say "no" and that"s it". But we won"t walk away.'

A council spokesman said: 'From 1 April we will implement two mobile cameras, which will give us a flexible approach to incidents.

'Should additional funding become available for fixed camera sites, we will liaise with the police who we work closely with on community safety issues.'

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 25 Mar 08

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