CCTV Plan For 'Crime Hotspots' Date: Thursday, July 02, 2009 Source: BBC News

Closed circuit television could be used in the university area of south Belfast to deter anti-social behaviour. A £108,000 pilot scheme by the council and the police could see mobile cameras at "crime hotspots" from the autumn. The move comes after violence erupted in the Holylands area on St Patrick's Day. It cost more than £35,000 to police the situation. Ray Farley of the Holylands Regeneration Group welcomed the plan, but students have been less than happy. The plans are at an early stage, but would will involve introducing six cameras in the area for a number of months. It is planned to have a live stream fed back to the city council offices and to the police. Richard McLernon, community safety co-ordinator for the city council, said the cameras would be highly visible. "This is a city wide scheme, not just something that we are looking for the Holylands," he said. "But we are proposing to start it here and test it to try to alleviate some of the problems that local people have been facing." He said the footage would be admissible in court but the primary aim was to prevent trouble. "There is a graduated response.... If we can get people to go back into their house.... we would prefer that. "But if somebody is committing a crime, I think it is appropriate that they are held to task." There has been a history of tensions between students and residents in the Holylands area - where up to 80% of homes are multiple occupancy. However, this year hundreds of St Patrick's Day party-goers spilled out onto the streets and violence ensued. Two officers were injured and at least 19 people arrested. Those behind the CCTV scheme - which involves attaching cameras to poles in the area - hope it will prevent a repeat of the trouble. Some students, however, are not keen. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, one said people would get "wound up" by the cameras. Another said: "I don't know if it's really necessary, given that most of the commotion round here is caused by overly exuberant students having a bit of harmless fun." Another said it was like being "spied on" 24 hours a day. But another student thought it was a good scheme, adding: "I have seen kids running smashing cars, just causing a lot of trouble." The Holylands Regeneration Group said discouraging anti-social behaviour and on-street drinking "by any means possible" was positive. Ray Farley said: "Something has to be done. You cannot behave in this way, year on year on year. "If people know they are going to be filmed, it'll stop them." Consultations are to take place within the community and with political representatives before any plan is approved. The scheme will be evaluated after a year.  To see the article please click on the link below. BBC News Courtesy of SecurityOracle.com - The Secury Industry's Portal