In the Lowlands of Scotland, Midlothian Council has a small public space CCTV system, that is however delivering on community safety, according to a report to councillors.
The Dalkeith-based council’s area is to the south and east of Edinburgh. An analogue-era system dated from 2006 lacked a maintenance budget so that the cameras degraded and became ‘inoperative’, according to the report by Derek Oliver, Chief Officer – Place at Midlothian. In the winter of 2023-4, some eight cameras were upgraded each in Bonnyrigg and Penicuik, and 14 in Dalkeith.
Meanwhile, during the covid pandemic NHS Lothian had relaxed parking enforcement towards staff car parking. When enforcement resumed in 2022, it meant many hospital staff parked at the Sheriffhall park and ride, off the A7 between Dalkeith and Edinburgh, managed by Midlothian for the City of Edinburgh Council. From there the NHS runs a chartered staff bus into Edinburgh. By the winter of 2023/24, users were complaining about poor lighting, non-functioning CCTV and antisocial behaviour, particularly by youths in modified cars, while workers were going to and from the site. Hence in the summer of 2024, Midlothian had installed speed bumps (to counter stunt driving by young drivers gathering), LED lighting (contributing to energy reduction) and nine new, CCTV cameras). In summer 2024 Midlothian also did work on public space CCTV for Loanhead, Danderhall and Mayfield. The report noted: “These sites presented engineering challenges due to historic hubs facilities for storage and recording being disposed of, or demolished (Mayfield Leisure Centre, Danderhall Library, Loanhead Police station).”
Like other councils, Midlothian also has re-deployable wireless CCTV cameras, for use ‘at locations of interest or hot spot areas for community safety and detecting/deterring anti-social behaviour and environmental crimes’. For police, the upgraded CCTV system (which comes under Road Services, Street Lighting at the council) has provided ‘critical support in various investigations’, according to the report; including an attempted murder, ‘serious organised crime group (SOCG) activity’, a driver charged with ‘driving under the influence’ after a vehicle collision; an abandoned, stolen vehicle, as used by burglars, leading to identification and arrest of the offenders; vandalism; and besides crimes, the safe return of a ‘high-risk missing person’. The report concludes that the new CCTV has ‘realised significant resource efficiencies for both Midlothian Council and Police Scotland’, and the council is due to look at further spends on CCTV.
Photo by Mark Rowe: Edinburgh, autumn.
