Police Authority helps fund Shrewsbury’s CCTV radio system
Problems with radio reception in Shrewsbury's CCTV monitoring centre look set to be overcome thanks to a grant from West Mercia Police Authority.
The radio equipment needs urgent upgrading to maintain effective communication with the town centre's Shopwatch, Pubwatch and recently launched Street Pastors scheme.
A shortage of funds posed a threat to the scheme, but the Police Authority has now pledged £1,000 - about half the cost needed to carryout maintenance work.
Sergeant Claire Greenaway, the officer in charge of policing in Shrewsbury town centre, applied for a grant from the Authority's community safety fund.
She said: "I'm delighted the application was approved and we should be able to get the outstanding money from other sources."
Sergeant Greenaway said town centre schemes like Shopwatch maintained contact with CCTV operators by radio which enabled calls to be quickly processed and responded to.
Various part of the radio equipment now need replacing and without the upgrade, members of Shopwatch and similar schemes in the town would have to resort to the general police airwaves system via the Force control room.
"The majority of our work in the town centre comes through the radio link, so it would have been a major step backwards should it ceased to exist. The funding will enable it to continue in its present form for the foreseeable future," she added.
Superintendent Pete Lightwood, the policing commander for Shropshire, supported Sergeant Greenaway's application for grant aid. He said: "It is apparent the base station needs upgrading and the police and the community get a ‘win' in terms of both prevention and detection with the use of Shopwatch radios in shops and elsewhere."
