Consultation on Eastleigh CCTV gets under way
Consultation on the provision of town centre CCTV cameras in Eastleigh gets under way this week.
The Borough Council’s Cabinet have approved a report noting that the Borough’s network of 51 cameras is now very outdated and no longer fit for purpose, with maintenance costs becoming unaffordable. The Council is keen to understand what residents and partners think about this issue.
The current CCTV network supports the work of the police and other agencies, such as the Eastleigh BID, who represent town centre retailers and other businesses - but it offers limited public protection at a high cost. The Council recognises the potential for a more efficient and cost-effective service to be delivered and the eight-week consultation, will seek the views of residents, town centre visitors, businesses, and other key partners. The consultation runs until 18 September 2024.
The Council invests in a range of community safety initiatives and CCTV is not a service that the authority is required to provide; the primary agency for community safety in Eastleigh is Hampshire Constabulary. Councillors agreed to open discussions with the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office, including relocating Eastleigh’s CCTV control room to the new police station planned for the town.
The Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, Councillor Keith House, said:
“As a Council we’re committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of residents, visitors and people who work in the Borough. Eastleigh’s out-of-date CCTV network is nearing the end of its useful life. Levels of crime and antisocial behaviour in Eastleigh are lower than in other comparable town centres and with the Council, in common with other local authorities, experiencing a squeeze on budgets, Councillors agreed that the annual cost of more than £300,000 on a non-statutory service is increasingly difficult to justify.
”We’ll be working closely with our police colleagues – and the views of residents, town centre visitors and businesses will be important to helping us develop a more efficient and cost-effective service.”