Covert CCTV equipment deployed in Broxbourne

Story link: Covert CCTV equipment deployed in Broxbourne by Jan Harris

VIT Innovation Limited, a Hertford-based specialist security systems designer and equipment manufacturer, has supplied covert surveillance cameras to Broxbourne Council, to help solve the problem of youths throwing stones at passing vehicles.

A number of bus windows were smashed as a result of the behaviour, resulting in the bus service on the route being withdrawn, due to safety concerns. The youths were also consistently damaging Broxbourne Council property.

Despite police increasing uniformed presence in the area, and also carrying out plain clothes operations, the problem remained unresolved.

VIT Innovation Ltd was chosen to provide covert CCTV equipment, in an effort to gather evidence to prosecute the offenders.

The covert surveillance cameras provided by VIT remained undetected by the youths, even when they looked directly into the lens from just 6 inches away.

The company installed a dummy CCTV camera in the vicinity of the covert camera, in order to defer suspicion.

Footage of the youths removing the dummy camera from the wall and attempting to destroy it was captured by the covert camera.

The cameras used by VIT, were high quality ultra low light cameras which provided clear images even though most of the attacks took place in darkness.

The images helped police to identify and arrest the six offenders concerned and no more stoning incidents have taken place.