Forums Forums Local News Talking CCTV shames offenders

IT WASN'T big brother who was watching litter droppers this week, it was primary school children using the borough's new talking CCTV system.

Telling people off for offensive behaviour, littering and vandalism, the cameras have been installed across Wirral to clampdown on antisocial behaviour.

Plucky pupils marked the launch of the controversial system from the council's CCTV control room in Birkenhead.

The eight cameras have been fitted with speakers and are located in trouble hot-spot areas in a bid to target offenders.

Wirral is one of only 20 places to be granted £25,000 from the Home Office's Respect Task Force.

Operators in the control room can broadcast from each camera, speaking directly to members of the public and where necessary, challenging anti-social behaviour.
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In recognition of its introduction, Wirral's Anti-Social Behaviour Team launched a competition in April aimed at the borough's primary school children to design a poster to demonstrate how talking CCTV will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour problems.And a group of 11 shortlisted school children from Mendell Primary in Bromborough, Christchurch CE Primary in Birkenhead and Arrowe Hill Primary in Woodchurch were the very first to use the system and give out key messages to members of the public.

Louise Casey, the Government's co-ordinator for the Respect Task-force said: "The new talking CCTV cameras are aimed at the small minority who think it is acceptable to litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties.

"The new equipment will make an important contribution in reminding people about what is, and what is not, acceptable behaviour and to think twice before acting anti-socially again."