Eight West Cornwall town councils are cooperating to launch a ‘ground breaking’ CCTV project to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
The brainchild of Hayle Town Council, the Town Council CCTV project will see a total of 80 cameras installed in Camborne, Hayle, Helston, Penzance, Redruth, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth.
It will be funded by council tax and recorded and monitored by dedicated and specially trained staff from the Cornwall Fire, Rescue and Community Safety Service (CFRCS).
A link is also being provided to the Emergency Management Centre in Truro so the images can be accessed in emergency situations such as flooding and major fires.
‘We know that residents in these towns recognised that CCTV was an effective tool in tackling crime and anti social behaviour and wanted it to continue to be used,’ said Rowenna Brock from Falmouth Town Council.
‘Many people have told us that the use of CCTV makes them feel safer in their communities.
‘I am delighted we have been able to achieve this by working with the police and the fire and rescue service and I am looking forward to building on the strong partnership which has been developed.’
CFRCS’s area manager Kevin Thomas said: ‘We are delighted to be working in conjunction with the town councils and consider the partnership to be an excellent example of localism and devolution.
‘We are very happy to be contributing to the creation and maintenance of safer communities.’