CCTV Petition Presented

2.09.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 30th Apr 2005

More than 800 people have voiced their support for increased closed-circuit television coverage across Surrey Heath by signing a petition calling for more cameras.

Rosalyn Harper and John Faulkner collecting petition signatures

It was started by Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Rosalyn Harper last year, and she said she was "extremely pleased" with the response.

Miss Harper said that the petition "ilusdtrated how important the installation of CCTV in local shopping centres is for people outside the centre of Camberley, who still feel let down by the Tory Council who do not consider this a priority."

She said that people in Heatherside, Lightwater, Bagshot and Frimley wanted more coverage, adding:"CCTV has been proven as an effective deterrent and provides police with evidential material with which to make prosecutions.

"While the use of CCTV should be combined with increasing the number of police on our streets, the reduction of crime in Camberley town centre following the provision of CCTV illustrates the benefits that can be obtained by installing CCTV".

The petition was presented by Lib Dem Group Leader David Whitcroft to Surrey Heath Mayor Cllr Paul Ilnicki at a recent full council meeting. He said that 850 people had put their names to the document which had been placed in shops and other venues in the borough.