Residents of South Gloucestershire will be even safer as a result of the opening of an extended CCTV service covering the district.
An official opening on 29 September marks the completion of an 18 month project to provide state-of-the-art CCTV equipment across South Gloucestershire.
Brand new equipment has been installed in key locations including Kingswood, Staple Hill, Chipping Sodbury, Hanham, Filton, Cadbury Heath, Patchway and Thornbury.
South Gloucestershire Council has invested £300,000 in the scheme with the remaining funding coming from the Home Office. In order to ensure available funding had the maximum impact, the council reached an agreement with Bristol City Council to monitor the cameras on its behalf.
Heather Goddard, executive member for communities for South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Local people have told us how important an improved CCTV service is to them, and I am delighted to see the effect of the council’s investment. Thanks to hard work by councillors, local communities, the police, council departments, town and parish councils, residents in South Gloucestershire will be safer in our towns.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Francis of Avon and Somerset Constabulary added: “South Gloucestershire is generally a safe place to be, but there are particular times and places, especially in our major towns, where extra effort is needed.
“This new equipment will help us to identify and respond quickly and appropriately to crime and anti-social behaviour, to make the public even safer.”
Commenting on the improved system, Rhodri Briggs, CCTV coordinator at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This new equipment is the very latest available, and will provide the clearest pictures possible. Already over a dozen incidents have been defused using it, and the equipment will provide a noticeable improvement in the service we provide.”
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
