CCTV funding considered in Nuneaton and Bedworth

[dutchman]

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is considering a number of options to fund its CCTV operation in the future.



The council currently pays just under £400,000 each year to operate the service and is expecting that figure to rise in 2012.

Councillors are keen to maintain the current level of service and are looking at passing on a number of the costs to businesses and police.

Cameras were initially introduced in 1996 to help tackle car crime.

According to the council, 116 cameras are currently in operation with nine members of staff employed to ensure they are monitored and recorded around the clock.

'Commercial assistance'

The council's executive director, Alan Franks, told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire that seven options, including offering the service to neighbouring towns like Atherstone and Hinckley, were being considered.

"The police rely heavily on the system to assist them in their duties," he said.

"When the system was put in we asked town centre businesses to contribute and a sum of £15,000 was donated initially.

"It's one of the recommendations of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Panel that we go back and ask businesses for more commercial assistance in the running of the scheme.

"It's a balance, but if businesses know that individuals can come to the town and leave their cars where they are safe and any crime that does happen is detected quickly by the police via CCTV, then extra custom will come to the towns.

"It's not just commercial sponsorship, it's offering the potential service to other local councils that may be able to fit in with the control centre."