Cirencester resident mounts Facebook CCTV campaign (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester resident mounts Facebook CCTV campaign

3:50pm Wednesday 29th April 2009

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THE victim of a brutal attack in Cirencester has mounted a Facebook campaign to shame council chiefs into improving the town's CCTV set up.

The 56-year-old man and his wife, who do not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, were pounced on by a group of 15 youths in Gosditch Street on Saturday night.

"CCTV is a deterrent and people ought to know if it is not being watched."

Joanthan Davies - member of the chamber of commerce

The gang spat at the man's wife before punching him in the face - leaving him with a huge black eye.

Despite the attack occurring less than 100 metres from a CCTV camera on a Saturday night, police told the victim the facility was unmanned.

"The police reaction was very fast - but four officers driving my wife and I in two vehicles for an hour to identify the perpetrators is not effective use of their time on a busy Saturday evening," he said.

Now he is demanding to know why no action on CCTV monitoring has been taken five months after the Standard revealed the contract with Chubb Security ended.

He has set up a Facebook group, closedcircuit Cirencester, and hopes his campaign will force CDC to take action.

"I am using my recovery time to publicise the disgusting state of the CCTV system. I don't see any way round the procrastination of CDC other than taking this action," he said.

A police spokesman said the CCTV cameras were monitored by PCSOs, when possible, with emphasis on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The rest of the time the footage is recorded.

The PCSOs are paid overtime out of CDC's CCTV budget of £66,520 this year.

In September last year the contract with Chubb Security came to an end and council chiefs said a new one would be in place by March.

But at a town council meeting this month it was revealed a decision had not yet been made.

Cllr Clive Bennett, portfolio holder for safe and strong communities, said the contract has been delayed while the new chief executive had discussions with the police about CCTV coverage in the town.

He said: "The intention is not to end CCTV in Cirencester."

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OWNERS of pubs and shops in Cirencester have hit back at the delay in the CCTV contract.

Bill Daley, landlord of The Crown pub in the Market Place, said the lack of CCTV monitoring gives troublemakers the opportunity to commit crimes.

"They have a time frame where they know they can do their vandalising or other crimes in the four days without being watched, it is ridiculous," he said.

Jonathan Davies, owner of Lock, Stock and Barrel and member of the Chamber of Commerce, said council chiefs should be up front about their position.

"CCTV is a deterrent and people ought to know if it is not being watched," he said. "The least the council can do is let us know where we stand so shopkeepers and businesses have an understanding of the security in place."

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