Straight out of George Orwell's novel, 1984, but upgraded CCTV cameras are earning their corn

                                                                          

Cllr Shepherd - happy man

AN upbeat note has been sounded on the early success of North East Lincolnshire's Council's upgraded CCTV system.

Says the authority's portfolio holder for safer communities, Cllr Ron Shepherd: "Early results are demonstrating the value of the £2.2-million  upgrade:

"Within just one month, our officers have shared evidence to be used in investigations into road traffic collisions, a suspected knife crime, a suspected assault and to aid in the safeguarding of a vulnerable person."

Since December 17 last year, nine pieces of footage have been shared with police and other emergency services to be used as evidence in their investigations. 

These have included a dramatic road traffic collision, where one driver appeared to walk away from the scene, and a suspected knife-point robbery.

In another instance, the cameras spotted a person stranded on Cleethorpes beach and officers were able to direct the Coastguard to help the individual in distress.

In an initiative, likened to Big Brother in the famous George Orwell novel, 1984, the council has ugraded 97 existing CCTV cameras and invested in the purchase of an additional 61.