The Borough Council’s CCTV network in Northampton is being extended, with more cameras covering a wider area, thanks to an investment by the Office of Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold has invested more than £97,000 in 13 new cameras in the St Crispin’s Ward, as part of his Safer Streets Project.

The Commissioner’s office successfully bid for funding from the Home Office, to carry out crime prevention projects in Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering. Around £650,000 from the total grant of £1.45 million that the Commissioner received, is being spent to enhance safety and security in Northampton, with particular focus on areas around the Portland and Bouverie Estates.

The 13 cameras will extend visibility around Northampton General Hospital, with cameras being located on Billing Road, Cliftonville Road and Wellingborough Road with an additional camera in Market Street Car Park.  The funding has enabled the purchase of the latest digital cameras with pan, tilt and zoom technology, giving a 360 degree view and high quality images.

The CCTV Control Room monitors more than 400 cameras in Northampton and around the county. Output from the cameras, which will record 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, will provide support to the police in investigating crime and anti-social behaviour; improving the ability to track people suspected of committing a crime and to help identify witnesses to crime.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said: “This investment in CCTV is for the benefit of community safety and will help us to detect crime and present additional evidence in criminal proceedings.

“Already, the Safer Streets funding has enabled us to provide security packs to more than 2,000 homes in Northampton, with a further 500 enhanced security packs being offered to residents living in the most vulnerable areas. We have purchased 30 Streetpods, offering secure parking for bikes and have improved security for residents and visitors in a number of car parks in Northampton. We will continue to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour issues in areas where it is needed most.”

Councillor Anna King, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, said: “We are delighted to have received support from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to extend our CCTV network. It is the combination of enforcement and a range of community interventions that will help us to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour which affects residents and visitors to Northampton.”

The first half of the new cameras are already in place and all 13 will be operational by mid-April.

The CCTV camera network is also being extended in Wellingborough and Kettering, thanks to the Commissioner’s Safer Streets Scheme.