New CCTV cameras to be purchased to keep district safe

Councillors approved a £76,716 funding request for Three Rivers Community Safety Partnership, which the council and Hertfordshire Police are members of, to acquire nine new CCTV cameras covering Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley and South Oxhey.

Councillors agreed to the request at a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday 10 December.

Six of those cameras will replace old CCTV, two new cameras will be deployed across the district to anti-social behaviour and crime hotspot areas, and an additional camera will be installed in South Oxhey. The funds will come from the Community Infrastructure Levy pot – a charge on new developments within the district.

Cllr Andrew Scarth, Lead Member for Community Safety & Partnerships, said: “I am delighted that the council was able to unanimously agree funding for nine new CCTV cameras.

“Three Rivers remains a welcoming district with a relatively low crime rate. That being said, we remain committed to keeping our areas safe and thanks to this funding; it will help us tackle crime and anti-social behaviour further that blight our communities.”

Councillors also approved the new CCTV policy, which outlines how the district council and the Three Rivers Community Partnership use the cameras, who can have access them, how partners can request moving the cameras and how members of the public can request footage.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, & Cllr Andrew Scarth, Lead Member for Community Safety & Partnerships, pictured by the CCTV camera in Ricky High Street.

PHOTO CAPTION 2: Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst shaking hands with Chief Inspector Andrew Palfreyman in front on the Rickmansworth Police Station sign with Michelle Wright, the council's Community Safety & Safeguarding Manager