Council’s CCTV surveillance has unexpected uses

Story link: Council’s CCTV surveillance has unexpected uses by Lin Freestone

A CCTV operation was set up by Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire following a complaint made by a member of the public. The object was to find out who, or what, was responsible for regularly leaving a mess by the side of the road at Cleckheaton, which was thought to be fouling by a dog.

However, the CCTV footage revealed that the culprit was not a dog, but a motorist. The man regularly travelled between Birkenshaw and Brighouse and, instead of finding a public toilet, he was in the habit of pulling up at the side of the road to relieve himself.

The man has been traced and the matter is now in the hands of the police.

Kirklees Council’s CCTV coverage is also being used to deal with fly tipping and enforcement actions, as well as other litter related issues. The council is well equipped with CCTV cameras installed at problem fly tipping sites and it is hoped that its increased performance will serve as a warning to anyone considering fly tipping. The priority is to focus on pro-active prevention rather than just simply clearing the incidence of fly tipping.

Enforcement action taken against fly-tippers in Kirklees has increased by almost 300% and fines of up to £5,000 plus costs have been imposed on people tipping waste in the area.

More than 100 security cameras are situated on streets and in car parks in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley, Holmfirth, Honley and Brackenhall. These operate by producing video images from the cameras and are passed via fibre optic cable, or a telephone line, to a central CCTV control room where they are monitored and recorded 24 hours a day.

Cllr Martyn Bolt is Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for the environment who is responsible for its CCTV operation in respect of environmental issues