VANDALS in Penhill will soon hear the voice of Big Brother if they are caught carrying out criminal activity.
Swindon Council is planning to pilot a revolutionary CCTV scheme on the housing estate which will allow control centre operators to talk to anyone involved in anti-social behaviour.
State-of-the-art mobile wireless cameras with microphones will be positioned in trouble hot spots enabling staff at the council's Waterside CCTV station to bark out warnings if they see an offence being committed.
It follows a successful two-month trial in Welcombe Avenue, Park North, where a mobile camera has halved residents' complaints about anti-social behaviour.
Mark Walker, policy and regeneration manager at Swindon Council, said that the mobile unit had been so successful as a deterrent against crime that three more had been ordered.
And if the pilot in Penhill proves equally as effective the talking camera technology could spread across the town.
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"We have had this camera in Welcombe Avenue for the last couple of months and we have got three more ordered because it has been so successful," explained Mr Walker.
"Our call centre has seen a reduction in complaints from Welcome Avenue of at least 50 per cent.
"A big selling point of this technology is that it does not record locally. It is wireless and so images go back to our control room at Waterside, which is monitored 24/7."
A 0.1-second time delay ensures that the cameras transmit digital images in almost real time and the new software will also have the capability to broadcast pictures into police vehicles.
The mobile units cost £15,000 each and are similar in design to the cameras used in the reality show Big Brother in that they can rotate 360 degrees.
Attached to the top of street lights they provide a bird's eye view of a 200 sq m area.
Mr Walker said: "The camera can be attached in a matter of minutes and we can move it just as easily.
"The aim of these cameras is to use them in trouble hot spots to give residents respite from anti-social behaviour problems.
"From the town centre we are covering a seven to 10km area so we have good borough-wide coverage.
But as long as we have a 250-volt power source we can use these cameras anywhere across the town. One thing we did late last year was relay all our images from the control room back to Gablecross police station, which gave the police the opportunity to access any evidence."
But it is the council's aim to go one step further with the new surveillance equipment.
"We are working on voice-activated deterrents on the cameras too," Mr Walker said.
"If the control sees anybody doing something wrong they can warn the person via a microphone attached to the camera.
"We are going to pilot that in Penhill in a couple of months.
"We have got the equipment in, but we are waiting for some additional information from the manufacturers.
"If it works we could roll it out for little or no expense for all our systems."
PC Billy O'Sullivan, beat manager for the Parks and Walcot, said that the two-month mobile camera trial had made a real impact in Welcombe Avenue and said expansion in the technology would be welcomed by police.
He said: "It has been fantastic in this area. CCTV evidence is the best type of evidence on most occasions.
"For residents, it will assist them in terms of reducing the fear of crime and it will give them a bit more confidence as it makes streets safer.
"We are delighted this technology is being used. We have got very strong links with Waterside and they have been very helpful in providing us with evidence to secure convictions."
Coun David Renard, Swindon Council's cabinet member for housing, said: "We are very committed to making sure that people who live in Welcombe Avenue don't have to put up with the thuggery and vandalism that is going on.
"The great thing about this mobile camera for me is that the troublemakers don't know when they are being watched as we can follow them around."
Posted by: Bazza, St. Pauls, Bristol on 1:56pm Tue 27 Mar 07
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace!
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace!
Posted by: Richard Kolasinski, Brighton on 2:52pm Tue 27 Mar 07
This sounds like an excellent scheme. It's always good to read stories about pioneering inner city schemes....Good luck PC O'Sullivan, you have my complete support....
This sounds like an excellent scheme. It's always good to read stories about pioneering inner city schemes....Good luck PC O'Sullivan, you have my complete support....
Posted by: Penhill resident on 3:36pm Tue 27 Mar 07
[quote][bold]Bazza[/bold] wrote:
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace![/quote] last time i looked i was a law abiding, tax paying citizen, don't tar everyone with the same brush.
Anything that can help stop the problems of anti-social behaviour has to be worth a go.
Bazza wrote:
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace!
last time i looked i was a law abiding, tax paying citizen, don't tar everyone with the same brush.
Anything that can help stop the problems of anti-social behaviour has to be worth a go.
Posted by: Voice of Reason, Swindon on 3:43pm Tue 27 Mar 07
Hey Bazza when we civillized people here in Swindon have the same problem with guns knives and stabbings you have in good ol Brissol ooh aarrhh then we will worry.Dont drag us down to your level
Hey Bazza when we civillized people here in Swindon have the same problem with guns knives and stabbings you have in good ol Brissol ooh aarrhh then we will worry.Dont drag us down to your level
Posted by: penhill taxpayer, penhill on 3:46pm Tue 27 Mar 07
I am a taxpayer i live in penhill and myself,partner and children have been attacked by the yobs of penhill,and to bazza from bristol we are law abiding taxpayer and its only small minded people like you that would come out with a comment like that my partner works for a water company which worked in st pauls and was told to lock the van up when in the van and to go to the shops in twos and while one man is in the hole digging the other one has to be look out so you cannot really slag off where i live can you
I am a taxpayer i live in penhill and myself,partner and children have been attacked by the yobs of penhill,and to bazza from bristol we are law abiding taxpayer and its only small minded people like you that would come out with a comment like that my partner works for a water company which worked in st pauls and was told to lock the van up when in the van and to go to the shops in twos and while one man is in the hole digging the other one has to be look out so you cannot really slag off where i live can you
Posted by: PC Plum, Ballamory on 4:15pm Tue 27 Mar 07
'ello 'ello 'ello, what's going 'ere then.....
What about the yobs with air rifles who can shoot defenceless cats, to take out these cameras - I am all for the 'Big Brother' feel as only a small percentage of Penhill Residents seem to ruin the area for the others (ie: Penhill Pete), but will we (the police) be able to use this in a court of law?
'ello 'ello 'ello, what's going 'ere then.....
What about the yobs with air rifles who can shoot defenceless cats, to take out these cameras - I am all for the 'Big Brother' feel as only a small percentage of Penhill Residents seem to ruin the area for the others (ie: Penhill Pete), but will we (the police) be able to use this in a court of law?
Posted by: Jeremy Beadle, Beadle Towers, Penhill on 4:29pm Tue 27 Mar 07
DLT and Noel Edmunds fancy coming round mine for a game of poker?
Not really though........I still got it, i still got....Watch out Beadles about!!!You better watch out cos Beadles abooouuttttt......Kill me.....Please..
DLT and Noel Edmunds fancy coming round mine for a game of poker?
Not really though........I still got it, i still got....Watch out Beadles about!!!You better watch out cos Beadles abooouuttttt......Kill me.....Please..
How about taking some coppers out of their luxury Japanese sports cars and putting them on the streets to act as a deterrent and reassure the law abiding citizens of Penhill?
How about taking some coppers out of their luxury Japanese sports cars and putting them on the streets to act as a deterrent and reassure the law abiding citizens of Penhill?
Posted by: Another Penhill Resident, Swindon on 4:36pm Tue 27 Mar 07
[quote][bold]PC Plum[/bold] wrote:
'ello 'ello 'ello, what's going 'ere then..... What about the yobs with air rifles who can shoot defenceless cats, to take out these cameras - I am all for the 'Big Brother' feel as only a small percentage of Penhill Residents seem to ruin the area for the others (ie: Penhill Pete), but will we (the police) be able to use this in a court of law?[/quote] Something much more effective than talking CCTV cameras - more policemen on the beat.
To Bazza of Bristol. Every community whether it's a council estate or a private estate have their share of idiots. Please do not tar all the residents of Penhill with the same brush. The vast majority are decent, hardworking people.
PC Plum wrote:
'ello 'ello 'ello, what's going 'ere then..... What about the yobs with air rifles who can shoot defenceless cats, to take out these cameras - I am all for the 'Big Brother' feel as only a small percentage of Penhill Residents seem to ruin the area for the others (ie: Penhill Pete), but will we (the police) be able to use this in a court of law?
Something much more effective than talking CCTV cameras - more policemen on the beat.
To Bazza of Bristol. Every community whether it's a council estate or a private estate have their share of idiots. Please do not tar all the residents of Penhill with the same brush. The vast majority are decent, hardworking people.
Posted by: Fenners, Thankfully not Penhill on 4:51pm Tue 27 Mar 07
[quote][bold]penhill taxpayer[/bold] wrote:
I am a taxpayer i live in penhill and myself,partner and children have been attacked by the yobs of penhill,and to bazza from bristol we are law abiding taxpayer and its only small minded people like you that would come out with a comment like that my partner works for a water company which worked in st pauls and was told to lock the van up when in the van and to go to the shops in twos and while one man is in the hole digging the other one has to be look out so you cannot really slag off where i live can you[/quote] Penhill taxpayer - take a breath. Did you not learn punctuation at school?
penhill taxpayer wrote:
I am a taxpayer i live in penhill and myself,partner and children have been attacked by the yobs of penhill,and to bazza from bristol we are law abiding taxpayer and its only small minded people like you that would come out with a comment like that my partner works for a water company which worked in st pauls and was told to lock the van up when in the van and to go to the shops in twos and while one man is in the hole digging the other one has to be look out so you cannot really slag off where i live can you
Penhill taxpayer - take a breath. Did you not learn punctuation at school?
Posted by: Keith 'Cheggars' Chegwin, 'On the road' on 5:11pm Tue 27 Mar 07
Roy,
There are two clearly defined routes to getting back on the box:
1 - Reality TV
2 - Crappy tv jobs such as travelling up and down the country doing doorstep prize giveaways....
Oh and there is one more, the nude gameshow route.....
Hope this helps...
Roy,
There are two clearly defined routes to getting back on the box:
1 - Reality TV
2 - Crappy tv jobs such as travelling up and down the country doing doorstep prize giveaways....
Oh and there is one more, the nude gameshow route.....
what a bunch of sad childish idiots.
swindon on a whole is a far safer place than bristol and the people of penhill are mostly of a friendly working background good natured people its only the young louts that ruin it.
what a bunch of sad childish idiots.
swindon on a whole is a far safer place than bristol and the people of penhill are mostly of a friendly working background good natured people its only the young louts that ruin it.
[quote][bold]Pav[/bold] wrote:
How about taking some coppers out of their luxury Japanese sports cars and putting them on the streets to act as a deterrent and reassure the law abiding citizens of Penhill?[/quote] LMAO Round of applause and standing ovation for this man; never a truer word spoketh
Pav wrote:
How about taking some coppers out of their luxury Japanese sports cars and putting them on the streets to act as a deterrent and reassure the law abiding citizens of Penhill?
LMAO Round of applause and standing ovation for this man; never a truer word spoketh
[quote][bold]Bazza[/bold] wrote:
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace![/quote] Ha!! says he of [bold]St Pauls[/bold] in Bristol!! dont see the point really I dont think it will work...bring back the beat bobby to give a good clout around the head!!
Bazza wrote:
it would be cheaper to round up all the resdients of penhill and ship them out to iraq, that way the rest of the law abiding, tax paying population would be able to live in peace!
Ha!! says he of St Pauls in Bristol!! dont see the point really I dont think it will work...bring back the beat bobby to give a good clout around the head!!
Posted by: marc, Pinehurst on 2:37pm Fri 30 Mar 07
Yes it seems a good idea about the talking CCTV but why not get those lazy coppers to street patrol more. This way they will be in more touch with the public. Some parts of Swindon has got intimidating and im glad i've mooved away.
Yes it seems a good idea about the talking CCTV but why not get those lazy coppers to street patrol more. This way they will be in more touch with the public. Some parts of Swindon has got intimidating and im glad i've mooved away.
As long as this system uses IndigoVision technology (most CCTV images you see on CrimeWatch etc. are pretty useless) then it should prove a real asset. Ind's technology ensures crystal clear DVD quality images, and they recently brought out a HD standard. Anything else then it might prove a useful deterrant.
As long as this system uses IndigoVision technology (most CCTV images you see on CrimeWatch etc. are pretty useless) then it should prove a real asset. Ind's technology ensures crystal clear DVD quality images, and they recently brought out a HD standard. Anything else then it might prove a useful deterrant.
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