Whittlesey CCTV Update

I visited the control centre that currently monitors the CCTV installation that forms the Whittlesey system. There had been concern expressed that an incident that was recorded would not yield an image good enough for Police to act on.

All cameras (at time of writing) are analogue, most are about 12 years old. There is nothing wrong with the locations or support, but camera technology had moved forward. All our cameras will be changed to High Definition digital cameras by the end of 2019 – that may help improve images. Also, the recording devices will be upgraded because they will be handling more data, and the wireless communication will need improving – the hardware has been received and will be rolled out ASAP.

Cameras are set up to cover an area in a random fashion, rather than a predictive set pattern. This can be good and bad. If an incident could be predicted the camera would rotate and zoom in where required so that the clearest image or sequence could be used. Sometimes an incident happens when the camera is zoomed out or focussed in another area. If this happens, no amount of enhancement will make a blurred or very small image clear (although TV and movies might have us believe otherwise). So, it is sometimes the luck of the draw whether a good or poor image is recorded.

WTC are investigating the possibility of additional cameras; a perfect system would not provide good value for money so a compromise is inevitable. At least better hardware and a new combined facility located in Peterborough will provide a realistic opportunity to identify events, better yet will be the potential preventative effect that a good surveillance system can bring to our town.

If there are any suggestions or questions – please direct them to your Ward Councillor.

Independent Cllr Eamonn Dorling

Bassenhally Ward

Written 9^th October 2019