City's CCTV cameras set for renewal
AROUND £400,000 could be invested in renewing Gloucester's CCTV camera system.
The issue is being discussed at Gloucester City Council's overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Monday.
It is proposed all of the older cameras are replaced with a new modern wireless system within two years, to the tune of £382,000, plus a potential £25,000 a year thereafter.
Ed Pomfret, health and safety service manager at the council, said: "The CCTV system was invaluable both during and after the disorder of August 2011.
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"Every camera is important to ensure there is good coverage of the city centre and all have been used in the resolution of crime.
"If the CCTV system was removed, there would be a consequential risk of increased crime and a high cost to reconnect if it was decided to reinstate at a later date."
On average, it is thought the city's CCTV system helps with 600 to 750 incidents a month.
The CCTV system was originally purchased by the city council through the Home Office crime reduction programme in the 1990s.
There are currently 58 cameras in the city which are linked to the control room operated from Gloucester police station. They vary in age with the original install happening in 1993.
Meanwhile, Mr Pomfret also believes the introduction of new cameras could help boost the city's economy.
"As the city is striving to improve the night time economy and encouraging business growth, CCTV is invaluable as a reassurance to new businesses and visitors to the city centre.," he added.
"Many of the cameras are located in conservation areas and/or on listed buildings and can detract from the street scene.
"While the importance of CCTV cameras is paramount, an upgrade programme may also be an opportunity to improve the
appearance of an area. Modern cameras are smaller than the existing platform cameras and are, therefore, more discreet so will go a long way to improve the visual impact."
Barry Leach, chairman of Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership, said: "If this is going to cover the entire city centre it will be a great step forward.
"At the moment it is a hotch potch of different systems, some work, some of them are old, some of them break down a lot. Having a single system would be of great benefit to the city."
Comments
by Lecorche
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 11:27AM
“Tim, my best result so far comes with a mini usb device inside a Pringles Tube.
I'm currently experimenting with waveguides based on round money boxes soldered together.
All legal in design and power input.
Watch this space. :-)
p.s I'm after a lan to replace the one I smoked in my WM8650.”
by TimMessanger
Sunday, September 09 2012, 5:52PM
“@Lecorche
Frensel zone ring any bells?
Say they are using the 5GHz band then there would be no problem using deauth attacks to take down the link with little power.
You could retrofit a usb adaptor into a old satellite dish (inside the old LNB) this will give you a very high gain directional antenna and I think you would find that equipment is legal!
The "Free Space Loss" varies dependant on the weather conditions such as humidity, heavy rain, snow etc.”
by Lecorche
Saturday, September 08 2012, 10:01AM
“@ Tim.
External cameras and wifi antennae are waterproof.
As for jamming,you'd need high power and illegal devices to do so. You'd still have to cope with the fact that the antennae are directional to a sharp degree.That is to say they have a narrow beam and you'd need to be in front of them and at the same height to bother them.”
by SandraPee
Saturday, September 08 2012, 9:22AM
“''Modern cameras are smaller and more discrete so will go a long way to improve the visual impact'' ........ but wouldn't that detract from them being a visual deterrent ?
Any new camera's need to give much sharper images than the current blurry ones .”
by TimMessanger
Saturday, September 08 2012, 8:23AM
“Wireless - any problems with wireless?
Will it be immune from weather conditions and potential jamming?
Shall we have a competition to break the security on what is bound to be an IP based system?”