A CCTV hub providing a 24/7 concierge service for all the high rise flats across Fife has been officially opened. After a £360,000 spend from Fife Council, the hub is based at the council’s Halbeath depot, outside Dunfermline.
Fife Councillor Altany Craik said: “The new hub means we are now able to deliver a 24/7 service to our tenants and residents using the latest technology. This is something that tenants have been asking for and I’m confident the new service will help make them feel more safe and secure at home.”
Council housing staff will be working shifts to provide cover into the evening, at weekends and through the night, monitoring the CCTV in each block from the Hub and carrying out regular foot patrols out of hours so issues can be dealt with on the spot.
Service manager Joan Lamie added: “We are now able to respond more quickly to any incidents and will continue to work closely with other services to address issues in the blocks. The CCTV footage will also help us investigate reports of vandalism, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping and keep areas safe.”
Meanwhile Inverclyde Council has installed a camera on Main Street, Inverkip. It’s been fitted in response to the public and other partners pointing to a gap in coverage in the area. The council hopes the camera will help tackle issues with anti-social behaviour in the area, specifically gatherings at nearby Inverkip Beach.
The installation is part of a larger review of camera locations across Inverclyde.
Councillor Paul Cassidy, Inverclyde’s vice-convener of environment and regeneration, said: “Inverkip is a fantastic village with excellent transport links, housing, a marina, and a beautiful beach so it’s natural that people want to visit to make use of the facilities. However, the beach area in particular has unfortunately attracted anti-social behaviour in recent times and we’ve been looking at ways in which we can try and prevent nuisance behaviour and catch those who are determined to cause problems.
“Following feedback from local representatives, the community council, police and other key stakeholders, we have installed a camera to act as a deterrent for anti-social behaviour and further enhance public safety.”
The council has 44 fixed cameras, five re-deployable cameras and three new CCTV vans that are due to be ready later this year. They’re monitored by council CCTV operators in Greenock Police Station.
