CCTV in the town centre came under scrutiny at this week's Brigg Neighbourhood Policing Panel meeting in the Angel Suite, following the lunch-time, broad daylight theft of a £300 sign from outside Scalini's chippie, on Wrawby Street, on a recent Market Day.
Ken Harrison, from Wrawby, raised the issue, saying he, and the shop owner, were both expecting CCTV footage taken of the town centre would have made it quite easy to identify the culprit. However, it transpired the system had failed to do so. Ken said that brought into question the overall efficency of the CCTV, managed by North Lincolnshire Council from Scunthorpe.
Insp Brett Rutty said police had now given the shop owner the "disappointing update" that nothing had been recorded on CCTV. "Unfortunately the CCTV camera didn't capture the offence," he added. "As far as I am aware, it was operating."
Insp Rutty defended the system, adding: "We have had some good results with CCTV." However, he said the system could not be expected to capture every crime. The presence of CCTV generally re-assured the public.
Town Mayor Coun Ben Nobbs pointed out Brigg Town Council had previously expressed concerns about leafy trees in the Market Place obscuring the view from the CCTV camera on the wall at the side of Ladbrokes' shop. But he understood all camera footage was now recorded onto a hard disc.
Panel chairman Coun Tom Glossop said it was "beyond my comprehension" that the trees in the Market Place could not be pollarded. "It may be the trees obstructed the view," he suggested.
Coun Glossop said he would report Ken Harrison's observations about the incident to the Town Council.
NF adds: Yesterday, Ken Harrison contacted us to report CCTV contractors attending to a camera near Scalini's. Clearly, the case is not yet closed!
The placebo effect can have amazing results in offering someone assurances and a possible psychological change, but when the patient realises that he is given nothing more than powdered chalk, he will start to question the cost effectiveness and efficiency of a method that is meant to offer, at least, a part improvement to an ailment.
ReplyDeleteWot exacerbates the dilemma is that the public cannot directly access the cctv team for answers. Report an alleged crime and the process involves a phone call to Hull....who then pass info to Brigg,,who then seek information from the CCTV team who then reply to the police who then contact the complainent. Anywhere, in this process, Chinese Whispers, could e evolve. For example, a phone to Hull to check on progress, the operator did not want the crime number, but the officer's name; didn't know Brigg, was unable to locate the alleged offence which occurred 4 days earlier and consequently, could not give any info about which of the two cameras in Market Place was being investigated - the relevant one was directly pointing at the sign. (went missing between noon and 1pm)Stavros, the proprietor of Scalinis was eventually informed that it was 'negative'.
Stavros asked for further clarification of, 'negative', but was unable to obtain any further info.
During the 5 day period from the sign going missing, Stavros was informed by officials at diffewrent times, that the looped camera recording has a life of 1, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week.
I phoned the CCTV manager and although he coulodn't pass specific information, said all Brigg cameras were operating.
At the Tuesday evening meeting, I learnt that recordings are now permanently retained on a hard disk.
At 9.30am Friday, a contrator was attending the cctv camera near Scalani's 'because it wasn't working'.
Last year, someone broke a rear window in Scalanis, Stavros was informed that the camera in Bigby St (leading off Market Place) was at the time, switched off.
nb I Stavros's permission to use his name.
The placebo effect can have amazing results in offering someone assurances and a possible psychological change, but when the patient realises that he is given nothing more than powdered chalk, he will start to question the cost effectiveness and efficiency of a method that is meant to offer, at least, a part improvement to an ailment.
ReplyDeleteWot exacerbates the dilemma is that the public cannot directly access the cctv team for answers. Report an alleged crime and the process involves a phone call to Hull....who then pass info to Brigg,,who then seek information from the CCTV team who then reply to the police who then contact the complainent. Anywhere, in this process, Chinese Whispers, could e evolve. For example, a phone to Hull to check on progress, the operator did not want the crime number, but the officer's name; didn't know Brigg, was unable to locate the alleged offence which occurred 4 days earlier and consequently, could not give any info about which of the two cameras in Market Place was being investigated - the relevant one was directly pointing at the sign. (went missing between noon and 1pm)Stavros, the proprietor of Scalinis was eventually informed that it was 'negative'.
Stavros asked for further clarification of, 'negative', but was unable to obtain any further info.
During the 5 day period from the sign going missing, Stavros was informed by officials at diffewrent times, that the looped camera recording has a life of 1, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week.
I phoned the CCTV manager and although he coulodn't pass specific information, said all Brigg cameras were operating.
At the Tuesday evening meeting, I learnt that recordings are now permanently retained on a hard disk.
At 9.30am Friday, a contrator was attending the cctv camera near Scalani's 'because it wasn't working'.
Last year, someone broke a rear window in Scalanis, Stavros was informed that the camera in Bigby St (leading off Market Place) was at the time, switched off.
nb I Stavros's permission to use his name.
Does Tom really mean, 'pollarding'?
ReplyDeleteIt's normally done (see also coppicing) willows....not silver birch tree.
A pollarded birch would look very odd...a bit like an inverted loo brush.
If the CCTV camera image (aasuming it's working) is being obscured by leafy foliage, the answer surely is to move the camera to a more advantage position.
Can I suggest it could be put in the end of the Angel's vuvuzela.
We must get to the root of the problem, but the betting is that North Lincs will keep it over the bookies, unless they twig on it's in the wrong location, But views could change in autumn when the focus will become a little clearer and a solution can be found for this growing problems. Ww need to sow the seeds to develop budding ideas to allkow things to mature and such a perspective wil give us a clearer picture. At the moment we are unable to see the wood for the trees.
Do nowt and we'll all be suckers and will have to bough out. We'll be left out on a limb with no focus what to do next!!