Shropshire Council are currently consulting on proposed cuts to the CCTV service in Shrewsbury.

Shropshire Council’s preferred option would see severe reductions in the town’s CCTV service which we believe would have a detrimental impact on the town’s economy and the safety of all users of the town – we are urging Shropshire Council to reconsider.

Like many towns and cities across the country, concerns around anti-social behaviour and crime have increased in recent years. In Shrewsbury we believe monitored CCTV has been a vital tool and deterrent to prevent anti-social behaviour and the escalation of minor incidents into more serious crime. 

Alongside the Shrewsbury Watch radio system, monitored CCTV underpins the maintenance of public order and safety in Shrewsbury, supporting the economic and social wellbeing of the county town.  Shrewsbury town centre has one of the largest day and night time economies in the West Mercia area, with an estimated annual footfall of nearly 12 million people, and is also a major destination for visitors, festivals and sporting events. 

Shropshire Council have involved Shrewsbury BID in discussions in the lead-up to this public consultation. We have highlighted what we believe are the wide-ranging risks of removing funding for the town’s excellent monitored CCTV service and the impact that this could have on the joint responsibility of the Council and Police for community safety.

Whilst we recognise that Shropshire Council is facing significant financial challenges and that CCTV is not itself a statutory service, we are concerned that the proposed cuts to CCTV are likely to lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime, decreased river safety and an increase in risk of harm to vulnerable individuals.

We are now asking businesses and users of the town centre to feedback directly to Shropshire Council regarding the proposed cuts. 

The closing date for responses is 4th September 2024.

Read Shropshire Council’s press release here

Further information 

What do CCTV operatives do? 

CCTV operatives have extensive local knowledge and play a key role in supporting the safety and wellbeing of all users of the town centre. This can include (but is not limited to): 

• Identify and prevent criminal activity escalation by spotting suspicious behaviour and alerting partners such as police, Shrewsbury Rangers, council staff, and Shrewsbury Watch radio users. 
• Assess and communicate incident severity levels before first responders arrive, ensuring efficient use of limited resources. 
• Monitor low-level crime and assist in the return of shoplifted stock by guiding partners to offenders. 
• Identify, monitor and inform partners of more serious crime e.g. assault, sexual assault, county lines drug dealing, domestic violence, human trafficking etc 
• Alerting partners quickly to at-risk individuals, including intoxicated or suicidal individuals, missing adults and children, and wanted offenders. 
• Monitor walking routes in and out of the town centre, including areas along the river, ensuring safe passage for those using the evening economy, and they often save lives. 
• Gathering evidence for use in convictions for serious offences. Live monitoring allows operatives to zoom in on individuals for positive identification. 
• In the event of a terrorist incident, limiting impact and danger to life by guiding Shrewsbury Watch radio users (including police). 
• CCTV operatives play a key role in maintaining a safe and vibrant trading environment, and the safety of all town centre users.

What is Shropshire Council’s preferred option?  

Shropshire Council’s preferred option (1) would see CCTV cameras in Shrewsbury town centre remain active but unmonitored with maintenance of the system funded by partners.

Under this option: 

• Cameras would record 24 hours a day, 365 days a year but with no active monitoring. 
• A “best endeavours” approach, would be adopted that would see some level of monitoring by out of hours call handlers as time allows. This means there may be some monitoring Monday to Friday between 5pm and 8.45am and all weekend. 

Out-of-hours calls for Council services would take priority. Where there are substantial grounds to believe that an individual or the public is in danger, the out-of-hours customer service team could do its best to provide live monitoring, dependent on available resources.  No priority would be given to CCTV monitoring, and there would be no day time monitoring during the week.