Bridge traders welcome plans to enhance CCTV

TRADERS have welcomed plans to upgrade and extend CCTV coverage on the Bridge. The move follows a wave of recent attacks on premises in the area.

New Road and South Side have become black spots in recent months and certain businesses are questioning whether the current cameras are fully operational.

Police are relying heavily on eyewitnesses to catch vandals and said CCTV cameras were prone to breakdowns or could be pointing in the wrong direction.

Police say they are backing the traders.

'I concur with the comments made by the Bridge community,' said Police Superintendent Ian Morellec.

'The incidents referred to are mindless, with no obvious gain to the perpetrators.

'In most instances, that level of vandalism is caused by individuals under the influence of alcohol. While that is no excuse, it does explain the lack of rationale behind the behaviour.'

Supt Morellec announced last week that the police, in partnership with the harbour authority and Customs, have commissioned a feasibility and cost study to upgrade and extend CCTV coverage on the Bridge.

It is hoped that work will be able to commence early next year.

Many traders are installing their own equipment and are willing to pay towards the cost of an upgrade.

Indian Cottage owner Nur Miah said he was prepared to pay.

'CCTV is very important. We want to avoid break-ins,' he said.

The police are responding to calls from businessmen like Paul Palmeri, proprietor of Blades Barbers, who called for more protection after his premises suffered repeated incidents of vandalism.

He gave a cautious welcome to the announced intentions of the police but wanted a firm commitment to heightened security.

'I am pleased that the police have decided to do it, because we've had a spate of these incidents recently and I look forward to seeing their comments and how they are implemented in the future,' he said.

He also said that more-creative and less-expensive solutions ' such as using the shop's computers and Internet connections ' could be investigated, as police cited cost as an issue for the future of CCTV on the Bridge.

Steve Brouard, owner of another targeted establishment, the Candy Shop, said good CCTV was 'essential' given that the police are short-staffed.

'It is bound to be a deterrent,' he said.

Pound World area manager Thomas Hyde said that 'a serious investment' in CCTV cameras was needed if it was going to work.

'The CCTV cameras at the moment are not adequate,' he said.