Safer Leeds manages Leeds Watch, the public CCTV covering Leeds.
Leedswatch monitors over 300 CCTV cameras in locations ranging from the City centre to District and Town Centres across Leeds and has proved an invaluable part of the current Crime Reduction Strategy.
It has direct links to the city Urban Traffic Control System (UTC), West Yorkshire Police area control room in Leeds and to the local Police Stations in Leeds; Millgarth, Chapeltown, Weetwood, Pudsey, Holbeck and Leeds Bridewell. This enable the police to view incidents as they happen.
Cameras are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are intended to provide public reassurance by reducing crime and the fear of crime. They also provide vital evidence to law enforcement agencies to assist in the apprehension and prosecution offenders. They play a key role in the prevention and detection of crime and camera operators are able to call for and assist the emergency services where necessary.
The CCTV cameras are able to use the Automated Number Plate Recognition Systems (ANPR) to monitor and track stolen and suspect vehicles.
Two mobile CCTV vans work within the communities of Leeds to support targeted multi-agency operations. They also have the Automated Number Plate Recognition Systems (ANPR) on board.
CCTV images are viewed daily at the control room by a team of trained Police CCTV Liaison Officers.
The expansion of the fixed CCTV systems is continuing to grow with an insatiable demand from the public.
A strict Code of Practice based on Home Office Guidelines governs issues such as storage, use and deletion of images and recordings. Stringent privacy regulations explicitly prohibits commercial use of the tapes or their images.
The hardware, maintenance of the hardware for the system and fibre optic cable rental is outsourced to a specialist providers.
The objectives of the Leedswatch scheme are
To reduce the fear of crime and offer reassurance to the public, by
(1) Facilitating the apprehension and prosecution of offenders.
(2) Assisting in the prevention and detection of crime committed in public areas.
To achieve the above objectives, the main function and responsibilities of the CCTV operators are to:
(a) Work a shift pattern that provide the monitoring of Leedswatch CCTV on a 24 hour basis.
(b) Respond to incidents and report to the police and other agencies when necessary.
(c) Provide statements for Court purposes.
(d) Act as professional witnesses.
(e) Keep accurate records of incidents.
Existing Home Office Research and other evaluations indicate that CCTV is part of an overall strategy in reducing crime and fear of crime and plays a key role in helping the police detect crime and convict criminals.
Studies, for example, show a 41% overall decrease in vehicle crime in car parks where CCTV has been installed.
A new CCTV facility is planned for 2009/10 which will provide one of the most modern CCTV control rooms in the country and will utilise state of the art technology to help identify offenders more effectively.
For further information on CCTV contact Leeds Community Safety on 0113 3950821