NEWS FLASH
| 01st Aug 2008:
Post by
Oovee Web Design Working together to target crime Figures released by Norfolk Constabulary show great results for Gorleston town centre CCTV, which received start-up funding from EnterpriseGY. In the six months the CCTV system has been operating, crime in the areas covered has reduced significantly: down 20% for general crime and 50% in retail crime. Incidents of criminal damage in the area have fallen dramatically. One person received a 4 month custodial sentence as a result of identification by CCTV following a series of offences against retailers. Another person was charged and 3 others identified following an assault outside the Dukes Head in Gorleston High Street. Drivers who park illegally, obstructing the High Street which is particularly narrow in places, are also being targeted. The system is manned by local volunteers and currently covers week-day trading hours with some additional cover at weekends and evenings. Prospective Conservative Candidate for Great Yarmouth, Brandon Lewis, recently paid a visit to the control room and praised the volunteers: “A superb idea: well run and organised by a great team. A lot of hard work has gone into this and we now have a superb system that has already show dividends in terms of reduced crime in the area.” The CCTV system received start-up funding from EnterpriseGY as part of the programme’s aim of ensuring the Borough is a safe and welcoming place to work. PC Jason Howell has been key in leading the set up and says: “The support we have received from EnterpriseGY has been tremendous; it has given us the opportunity to combat crime in a way that I never thought would be possible. It has also had a massive knock on effect; it has given us new energy to develop and improve strategies in crime prevention. We now have a team of volunteers who work very hard for the local business community; a new town link radio system is being launched and there are other projects we are looking at. Working closely with the community has paid dividends and I would personally like to thank everyone who has helped.” EnterpriseGY programme manager Richard Percy says it’s a great example of how wide-reaching EnterpriseGY's interests are: “EnterpriseGY has already established itself as a key resource for anyone looking to start-up or expand a business in Great Yarmouth but our aims are very broad. By working with key partners, such as Norfolk Constabulary, we’re ensuring the Borough is a welcoming place to do business and we’ve also established strong links with educational settings to create a culture of aspiration and enterprise amongst young people. The Gorleston CCTV project is a great example of how EnterpriseGY is reaching into the community and working with key partners to deliver really positive changes for local residents and businesses.” Further funding has been obtained through donations and bids including £500 from the Gorleston Chamber of Trade, £400 from the Crime Prevention Panel and £1200 from the community chest to pay for two police radios to allow the controllers to have direct contact with PC’s and PCSO’s. To find out more about EnterpriseGY, visit www.enterpriseGY.co.uk or call 0800 458 0146. For more information about EnterpriseGY, library pictures or to arrange interviews, please contact Denice Currie or Carl West at Kiss Marketing on 01603 305811. We have a number of spokespeople available to talk about local activity and achievements, including case studies. |
| 21st July 2008:
Post by
Oovee Web Design We have completed Gorleston CCTV Ltd website. After many weeks of hard work all of the website is online and more information plus features will be coming soon. This website was provided for free to help promote Gorleston CCTV Ltd and to help make it become more widely known. For more information on web designs supplied by Oovee, please visit http://www.oovee.co.uk. |
NEWS Archived
| 01st July 2008:
Post by Brandon Lewis I was also fortunate enough to day, separately to visiting Great Yarmouth police, to visit the Gorleston CCTV set up. This has been masterminded and driven by PC Jason Howells. A superb idea: well run and organised by a great team of volunteers. If you live in or near to Gorleston and have some spare time, make contact with the CCTV and give them some time. A lot of hard work has gone into this by PC Howells and his volunteer team on the committee and helpers to get the area set up and running and now to man it during the day. They have a superb system that has already show dividends in terms of reduced crime for shops in Gorleston, I saw that in action myself today. Too often we all hear stories of people talking about things that need doing or asking why no one has done something with an issue or idea, this CCTV team is a great example of what can be achieved with a getting results attitude form someone who will not accept no as an answer. I congratulate the whole team for their efforts on this and clearly Gorleston owe PC Howells a great debt of thank for his time, patience and commitment in seeing this project through. |
| Feb 2008:
Post by
Norfolk
Police Two local police officers have been nominated for the Bill Nelson memorial cup, Pc Jason Howell and Pc Pat Bailey were nominated in recognition of there hard work and commitment in developing Gorleston CCTV. The work was over and above what was expected of the officers. The Bill nelson cup is awarded annually for work in the community. |
| 04th December 2007:
Post by Eastern Daily Press Some bemoan the rise of Big Brother-style surveillance, but today residents and businesses in a Norfolk town warmly welcomed the arrival of five cameras to protect them from criminals. The streets of Gorleston, one of the last in the county to get CCTV, should be safer after the town's system was launched in the High Street, which has recently been plagued by shoplifters and thieves. It is also hoped the new security measures will help boost Gorleston's economy, which has seen several shop closures in the last few months. The £40,000 scheme and its five cameras are funded by EnterpriseGY and supported by police and businesses. PC Pat Bailey, crime prevention officer, said: “CCTV helps reduce crime, increases public and business reassurance, creates a secure trading environment and improves police detection rates.” A new company - Gorleston CCTV Ltd - has been formed to operate the cameras from a secret location and the crime- fighting scheme will run in conjunction with high- visibility police patrols and the Shop Security radio scheme. |
| November 2007:
Post by Great Yarmouth
Mercury Crooks are set to get caught on camera in Gorleston town centre with the long-awaited introduction of CCTV to the High Street. Thieves had seen the busy shopping hub as a source of rich pickings after spy cameras stopped the light fingered making an easy getaway in Great Yarmouth. The news comes as two High Street businesses cope with the cost of break-ins in the space of the last few weeks. The £40,000 GY Enterprises funded scheme has taken about a year to put in place and a company, Gorleston CCTV, has been set up to run it. The extra security is expected to trigger a spending boost on the street, which has suffered a series of shop closures. Businessman Albert Jones has donated premises for the CCTV control centre, which will be manned during the day by members of the Gorleston Safer Neighbourhood Team. Pleasure Beach managing director Mr Jones, who also owns Magic City gambling arcade in the High Street, and is one of the directors of the CCTV company, said: “I believe most town and city centres now have CCTV as unfortunately crime is a fact of life, but the cameras are a deterrent and should help bring about a reduction in incidents.” Two police constables, Jason Howell and Pat Bailey, have been at the forefront of the efforts to bring CCTV to the town. Town centre community officer Pc Howell set up the company after drumming up support from traders who have so far given around £1,000 towards the running costs. Pc Bailey worked to get cash backing for the cameras from GY Enterprises and liaised between the funding and technical sides of the project. “We both did a lot beyond the normal scope of a police officer and it was a steep learning curve for us,” said Pc Bailey. “There has been an increase of shoplifting in Gorleston since cameras were introduced in Yarmouth town centre. “Known criminals have been coming here from Yarmouth, Norwich and Lowestoft because there has not been CCTV. “The cameras will cut crime, make shoppers more comfortable about going into town and increase footfall and business. “People will also be less reticent about going out at night, where they may have been concerned now they will feel a lot safer. “There are 125 businesses on the High Street and 90pc are in favour of this and are willing to get involved in putting money into the coffers.” Technical assessments took place on Monday with the system due to be installed later this month and expected to be operational before Christmas. The arrival of the CCTV fulfils a goal set by Pc Howell when he first stepped onto his beat five years ago. He has devoted many hours to canvassing support for the scheme from High Street shop owners and businesses. “The guy I took over from said I would never get CCTV in Gorleston, so I made it my aim to prove him wrong,” he said. “I was determined not to let go of the chance of having it, we all rallied round and the hard work has now paid off.” A total of five cameras will be put up at Somerfield supermarket, Barclays Bank, Gorleston social club and two on the library in Lowestoft Road. There are currently around 50 CCTV cameras in Great Yarmouth town centre and seafront which are credited with cutting crime in the six years they have been installed |
| November 2007:
Post by Great Yarmouth
Mercury, local thoughts. There were some candid views when we spoke to shop owners and staff about the impact the CCTV cameras would have on the high street. A shop owner, who did not wish to be named, said she had £100 stolen in an overnight burglary last month. “The thieves smashed a window to break in, but if they are being filmed then perhaps it will make them think twice. “All the shop owners look out for each other and the police are very good, but it is not possible for someone to be here all the time, so it will be really useful having round the clock surveillance.” Tracy Knights, owner of Sentiments gift shop, said: “It is nice to have a deterrent even though we have not been affected by crime. I have put money towards it along with several other shops and businesses on the high street.” Kinza Ellis, receptionist at Body Matters beauty salon, said the CCTV could not come soon enough as the business had recently suffered a break in. “We were burgled two weeks ago money was stolen and a glass table and window smashed. The CCTV will be good - we open a couple of late nights and it will make our clients feel a lot safer. “We close at 9pm and it is not always very nice having to walk along the street when it is dark.” Dazzle fashion shop owner, Darren Cletheroe, was in the dark over the arrival of the security cameras. “The shop has only been open a couple of weeks and I have not heard anything about the CCTV. I don't think it is effective as made out in Yarmouth as it cannot see anything on the market stalls.” Justin Spalding, Jimmy D's menswear manager, said: “I am sure that any type of improvement in security is a good thing. “We have not been burgled, touch wood, but on the other hand it is better that there is something in place so it is less likely to happen. Anything that encourages people to feel safe shopping has to be good for business in the area. |
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