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CCTV to cut crime on Corby estate
CCTV cameras have been installed outside a Corby shopping precinct to tackle anti-social behaviour after a campaign by shopkeepers and councillors.
Six monitoring devices have been put up around Charter Retail Park, in Butland Road, to improve security following a number of recent incidents.
Shopkeepers, councillors and police community support officers celebrated with a glass of champagne outside the row of shops.
Owner of Charles Barry barber's shop, Caroline Mann, said: "I think the staff and the shoppers will feel a lot safer.
"You get a lot of youths hanging about. We have been broken into twice already and the business has only been here for about a year.
"The cameras cover a lot of the rest of Oakley Vale. They can see right down to the end of the road and another one at the back of the shops can see over the field.
"Councillor David Sims has really helped us. I don't think this would have happened without him."
A retail group consisting of councillors, shopkeepers and police was set up last year and has put pressure on the shopping precinct managers, Askew Hawkins, to put up the pan, tilt and zoom cameras.
The latest incident was a break-in at the Subway store on New Year's Eve.
And a recent police operation resulted in three litres of alcohol being confiscated from under-age youths.
Previously, there was only one camera which wasn't connected to Corby Council's control room at Grosvenor House in George Street.
Corby Council's neighbourhood manager Craig Spence said: "The cameras are all connected up to the council's CCTV control room, which has access to the police radio network. Operators monitoring the cameras around the clock."
Cllr Sims, councillor for Oakley Vale, said: "I'm delighted with the outcome of this.
"Children hang around, particularly outside the chemist and betting shop, and they intimidate members of staff and customers.
"The cameras will make people who work and shop here feel a lot safer."
Anthony Papachristoforou, from the Oakley Fish Bar, said: "I'm pleased for all the shops and for the whole estate that the cameras have been installed."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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