Having seen the countless posts about vandalism, fly-tipping, fire’s in parks, graffiti etc I’ve decided to start investigating the CCTV coverage of WLBC and particularly Skelmersdale.
There are 106 camera’s in WLBC currently, being monitored from Ormskirk, according to their report.
In the first 6 months of 2019, £88243.90 has been paid to Enigma CCTV Limited who monitor the cameras. That works out at £176,487.8 per year for CCTV.
With a population of 24,196, Ormskirk has the highest number of CCTV cameras at 41. This gives a camera to population ratio of 1 camera per 590 population.
With a population of 34,718 (2017 estimate), Skelmersdale has the second highest number of CCTV cameras at 29. This gives a camera to population ration of 1 camera per 1197 population.
With just over double the number of cameras per population it’s no surprise that the number of “incidents per location” reported on these cameras are almost double in Ormskirk.
Incidents & Observations by Location
April 2018 – March 2019 Ormskirk – 3292
April 2018 – March 2019 Skelmersdale – 1415
I’ve said for a while now that if we don’t have adequate CCTV, we won’t catch those committing offences and we have no real deterrent to stop people re-offending.
Of course, if you are law abiding, you have nothing to worry about. There’s strict laws surrounding personal privacy and CCTV.
In my opinion, the data shows a few of things…
1) Yet again, Ormskirk appears better off than Skelmersdale. They have double the number of CCTV cameras per population than Skelmersdale.
2) More cameras equals more incidents being observed, and reported! Double the CCTV per population has equalled double the number of reported incidents.
3) I see no reason that more CCTV shouldn’t be added to our public spaces to help tackle violent assaults, kids carrying knives, dirt bikes tearing through the estates, fly-tipping, litter, people throwing litter out of car windows, criminal damage to parks, graffiti… the list goes on!!!
4) Firbeck Park was set on fire this week! There is no camera there, according to the report. This means that unless someone comes forward, whichever clown(s) set fire to the park won’t be caught. There’s no real deterrent to stop them doing it again!
If i’m elected as a councillor, I want to tackle this issue of inadequate security head on.