Friday, 3 April 2009

SMILE YOU'RE ON CAMERA

Thanet district Council press release

A high profile campaign that’s already helped to halve crime along Margate seafront is now being extended into Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

The original scheme in Marine Terrace saw additional police patrols during the busy summer months and the introduction of posters reminding people that CCTV were watching them, with the warning “smile… you’re on camera!” Head cameras were also introduced for door staff at pubs and clubs during Christmas 2008.

Now posters are being distributed to pubs and clubs in Ramsgate and Broadstairs over the next few weeks, with head cameras set to be introduced as well. Since their introduction, the head cameras have been used to capture evidence of several violent assaults, which has helped to secure convictions against those who cause trouble and behave anti socially.

Spring time policing plans will see more officers on the beat in the areas that they are most needed. An additional CCTV operator will also be introduced into the control room on weekend evenings to monitor the main night time hotspots in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate and to pick up radio calls from businesses with Thanet Safe radios. The mobile CCTV monitoring van will also be parked at key locations across Thanet.

The project is being driven forward by the Thanet Community Safety Partnership, with the support of the owners of licensed premises in the towns. The Partnership is a group of organisations, including Kent Police, Thanet District Council, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS and Kent County Council, who are working to make the area a safer place.

Community Safety Officer Tiffany Hall said: “These measures had a great impact on cutting crime along Marine Terrace last summer and that’s why we’re now looking to extend them to other potential hotspots around Thanet. We want to build on the success we’ve already had and make the area’s main night time venues the safest they’ve even been. We know that night time crime matters to local people and it’s one of the priorities for the Community Safety Partnership. We’re determined to tackle it and make people feel as safer as possible when they go out socialising at night.”

Inspector Guy Burrows from Thanet Police said: "We what to support the people of Thanet and the Licencing community with these devices, ultimately their deployment and use will contribute to making Thanet a safer place.”


Photograph features Inspector for Broadstairs and Ramsgate Guy Burrows, Angela and Brendan Bean from the Dolphin, Rob Webster from the Royal and Tiffany Hall from The Community Safety Partnership.

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