More CCTV for shopping centres

Linked cameras will target known criminals in Hartlepool

Video surveillance of shopping centres on Teesside is being extended in an attempt to track known criminals.

Council bosses, police and shopping centre managers in Hartlepool say a new fibre optic system will link dozens of CCTV cameras in the town.

The move is being used to track known criminals who prey on town centre shops and also to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Hartlepool's community safety officer Chris Humpleby says the hi-tech system will be a "significant deterrent' to criminals.

Take control

A special fibre optic link is being installed between Hartlepool Borough Council's CCTV control room and a similar one at the town's main Middleton Grange Shopping Centre.

Mr Humpleby said the system will allow staff at either site to take control of specific cameras.

He said: "This will increase our flexibility and enable us to better track known criminals.

"At the moment we have to use conventional telephones to report possible sightings to each control room.

Better information

"Now everyone will be able to see the same images and also to control any of the 30 or so cameras we have available in the town and shopping centre.

"By putting in the fibre optic link, literally at the press of a couple of buttons, either sets of staff can take control of single cameras or the entire system."

Mr Humpleby says the new system will offer better information to police in the town.

It will also enable control room staff to build up and digital video archive of known offenders.