CCTV cameras have positive effect on crime in Matson

CCTV cameras in Matson have reduced levels of crime, with reports of fly-tipping dropping by half.

Residents called for the camera at a meeting with The Gloucester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) in December last year.

The mobile camera was attached to a lamppost on Matson Avenue in May.

There were 11 fly tipping reports between March and May, and since the camera was installed, there have been just six reports.

Sergeant Lyn Northfield, from the Matson and Linden Safer Community Team, is pleased that the camera has had a positive effect.

She said: "The recent decrease in criminal damage in Matson is very encouraging and testament to the way our Safer Community Team, residents, and partner organisations have come together to tackle the priorities of local people.

"The installation of CCTV was the result of a survey we conducted with partners which asked citizens what they thought the problems were in the area and how we could address them.

"The results were then fed back to the community and an action plan drawn up to address the issues.

"As well as the CCTV, targeted patrols and increased distribution of crime prevention advice to vulnerable people were amongst the successful activities that resulted from the consultation.

"We are determined to continue to work with the local community to enhance the safety and quality of life of those living in the area and would urge anyone with information or queries to get in touch with us."

Residents in Matson can contact the police by phoning 0845 090 1234 and asking to speak to a member of the Matson Safer Community Team.

Gloucestershire County Councillor Steve McHale (Lab. Robinswood) is delighted with the cameras, and said they are just one of many factors that have contributed to the fall in crime.

He said: "I'm really pleased with the outcome of the cameras.

"It's great that fly tipping has dropped but anti-social behaviour is the real one we want to put the lid on.

"I think the new play areas have helped too, they get kids off the street."

£30m cyber-security centre opens

A centre which will lead the way in the United Kingdom's fight against cyber crime opened officially in Belfast on Wednesday.

The £30m Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen's will become the UK's principal centre for the development of technology to counter malicious 'cyber-attacks'.

The centre will also create 80 new jobs.

It is hoped work at the centre will help keep crime off the internet, combat anti-social behaviour and street crime and safeguard information stored electronically, both at home and in the workplace.

Queen's University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said it was a "bold and exciting development".

"Cyber-security is a global issue that affects us all, 97% of business in the UK now relies on the internet and other IT systems.

"CSIT will become a vital reference point for all businesses working in this field and beyond."

CCTV

Professor John McCanny, CSIT principal investigator, said the centre would help the international community "tackle cyber security in a co-ordinated way".

The centre also hope to develop better protection for Pcs.

To help with this CSIT is developing powerful processors capable of screening huge volumes of data - equivalent to the Internet traffic produced by over 10,000 households - for malicious content and behaviour in real time, including online grooming.

CCTV cameras will also be an area of interest.

There are four million CCTV cameras in the United Kingdom, but very little of the footage in observed in real time.

CSIT hopes to develop hardware and software designed to analyse CCTV camera data in real time.

CSIT's research also covers specific areas which have been identified as being of strategic national security importance in major reports produced recently by the British and American governments.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8271301.stm

CCTV camera installed to protect Edge Hill University students

A COUNCIL has installed a CCTV camera to protect students walking home from nights out.

The camera, which is on St Helens Road, in Ormskirk, overlooks a junction with several bars and a kebab shop which is known as an area affected by anti-social behaviour.

It is also a well-used route home for Edge Hill University students.

The security system was paid for by a Home Office grant.

There are now 53 council CCTV systems installed across the borough of West Lancashire.

Source:http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/08/29/cctv-camera-installed-to-protect-edge-hill-university-students-100252-24558278/

Theft is denied

A receptionist at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai went on trial yesterday accused of stealing dhs2,000 and a digital camera from the locker of one of the hotel’s guests.

Dubai Court of First Instance heard how the head of the hotel’s security received a call from the deputy manager in July after the defendant claimed he found an envelope full of cash.

“The defendant claimed that he had found the envelope in the locker area but the CCTV showed that he had taken dhs2,000 from it,” the head of security said.

“He also stole a digital camera for a customer who didn’t report it.”

The defendant has pleaded not guilty and the trial has been adjourned.

This is the second court case concerning theft at the Palm Jumeirah hotel recently.

In July, a cleaner pleaded guilty to stealing $1,000 from a guest’s room. He and a second defendant are awaiting sentence.

Source:http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=83746%20%20%20%20&page=local%20news&title=Theft%20is%20denied