Police claim CCTV upgrade success

The camera upgrade has had a major impact in the town

A CCTV system upgrade in Stranraer has been credited with helping police deal with more than 200 incidents.

It has helped tackle a range of issues including antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, drug dealing and tracing missing people over the past year.

Dumfries and Galloway Council funded the digital upgrade which has improved evidence quality for the police.

A force spokesman said the system had achieved "excellent results" in helping them to fight street crime in the town.

Sgt Jim Hendrie of operational support in Stranraer said the upgrade had also had a financial impact.

News of these fantastic results makes it all worthwhile and reiterates the council's determination to assist police in making our communities safer Stuart Martin Dumfries and Galloway Council

"The investment from our partners has improved the quality of Stranraer's CCTV system which helps officers identify offenders thereby saving police time and public money," he said.

"In one recent incident we were able to use the system to trace a missing person before air and sea rescue were called out."

Stuart Martin, of Dumfries and Galloway Council, welcomed the impact of the system.

"The system upgrade cost approximately £280,000," he said.

"But news of these fantastic results makes it all worthwhile and reiterates the council's determination to assist police in making our communities safer."