CCTV HAILED AS IMPORTANT STEP IN REGENERATING THE HEART OF OMAGH
Crimeline' TV presenter applauds resilience of town and its people
by Karen McPhilemy
THE official launch of Omagh Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system has been hailed as 'a very important step in the regeneration of the
community urban heart of the town'. That was the reaction of the guest speaker at the event, Ann Doyle, of RTE's 'Crimeline' programme.
Set up by Omagh Safer Streets Ltd., the scheme has received financial backing from over 130 local businesses and organisations, with the capital costs being provided by the Policing Board and Omagh District Council.
With this being the first community led CCTV scheme, organisers say the aim of the initiative is to "contribute to the social and economic regeneration of Omagh and the restoration of confidence by helping to reduce crime, thereby helping to create a safer and more friendly environment for all those who live, work, shop or visit the town centre."
The CCTV system went 'live' just before Christmas with the operating of seven of the nine cameras within the town centre. The success of the scheme is already showing, with 15 incidents now being followed up by police as a result of the operating cameras.
Attending the launch were representatives of the commercial, community and statutory sectors.
Speaking of the uses and benefits of CCTV in aiding regeneration of town centres like Omagh, Ann Doyle said: "Over past years you have shown remarkable resilience and courage and that deserves every opportunity to live in a town where prosperity and peace live side by side. Omagh has earned it and as time goes on you can only expand on it."
Referring to the Temple Bar area of Dublin, she went on to say that although there would be almost 70,000 traffic vehicles passing through that area daily, the installation of just eight cameras had made a dramatic difference to the rate of crime in that particular area, with reports that it has dropped by almost 50%.
Speaking of those supporting CCTV, Ms Doyle continued: "Visitors are voting with their feet because they are going into the town and now enjoy the amenities without being concerned about someone coming round the corner to mug them."
Concluding she said: "I admire your courage and knack of being able to get up and dust yourself off, and I am convinced that you will go on to different, better things."
Delight
Expressing delight to have the long-awaited scheme up and running, Cllr. Paddy McGowan, chairman of Omagh Safer Streets Ltd, explained that the work put into the system had been very detailed and intensive.
"For the majority of us involved, this has without question been the most technical and challenging project to manage. We are delighted to have reached this stage, demonstrating that after many months of preparation the high tech CCTV scheme is now live. What we now have in Omagh is state-of-the-art cameras spread throughout the Town Centre, the equal to any other such system in these islands."
Mr McGowan said that as an elected representative he had been campaigning for many years for this development, and added that from his time with Ulsterbus he knew of the benefits of having CCTV.
"With CCTV we are now able to help Omagh take another step forward. Wouldn't it be great if we had no antisocial problems and people were very confident about walking through the town at night, window shopping with no shutters on shops and taking it easy.
"It would be foolish of me to say that CCTV will bring all this about on its own. It can't and it should not be expected to. It's a start and CCTV needs other measures and projects to make this happen. Now with CCTV we have another example that Omagh is moving in the right direction towards a safe and secure environment for all," he said.
"What we are providing is the first CCTV system run independently of policing, that is without police operators, and outside police station
environments. There is a link with police, but police demands on the system are structured within a Code of Practice managed by Omagh Safer Streets Ltd.
Hurdles
"In developing the system we have come across hurdles, which no other such CCTV scheme has had to face and we have done this successfully. We have even set up a company to run the scheme all of this proving that in Omagh we can and we like to do things differently."
Mr McGowan added that the nine cameras were individually located to take account of a crime pattern analysis that shows the 'hot spots' around the town centre, and were strategically positioned to offer a net of coverage.
As Omagh town centre is a conservation area the equipment had been carefully blended in with the street furniture and streetscape, he added.
"CCTV will help towards making the town centre a more safe and secure environment for all. It will play a key role in acting as a crime deterrent and no law abiding citizen or visitor will have anything to fear. We will run the system professionally, responsibly, independently and effectively.
"CCTV is not a threat; it is those who assault, thieve, damage and burgle that are the threat. CCTV evidence is admissible in court and many other town and city centre CCTV systems throughout these islands can point to numerous examples of how such a system can help with crime reductions.
No guarantee
"However, while CCTV can make a difference, it is important to note that it will not cure every ill and we cannot guarantee that it will solve all the problems in the town centre and catch every crime," he said.
Mr McGowan added that the securing of CCTV had arrived as a result of strong public support. And he revealed that in the year 2000 independent widespread community consultation found 93% of the public surveyed were in favour of the scheme, along with 97% of the business community surveyed.
Mr McGowan said: "I hope that we can, as a town and community, build upon CCTV with additional community safety measures which will help to further improve the social and economic life of the town. Omagh town centre has been under pressure in recent years, most notably due to the terrible bomb of August 1998 and this CCTV scheme is an example of another project we have developed to support our urban regeneration. Indeed other important projects will soon follow to help create a very vibrant town."
Operating on a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year basis, the monitoring services have been subcontracted to Lisburn Security Services Ltd. a private security firm.
The cameras currently in operation are situated in Campsie, High Street, Castle Street, Scarffes Entry and Bridge Street, and another two cameras are expected to be installed at Market Street and John Street.
by Karen McPhilemy
THE official launch of Omagh Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system has been hailed as 'a very important step in the regeneration of the
community urban heart of the town'. That was the reaction of the guest speaker at the event, Ann Doyle, of RTE's 'Crimeline' programme.
Set up by Omagh Safer Streets Ltd., the scheme has received financial backing from over 130 local businesses and organisations, with the capital costs being provided by the Policing Board and Omagh District Council.
With this being the first community led CCTV scheme, organisers say the aim of the initiative is to "contribute to the social and economic regeneration of Omagh and the restoration of confidence by helping to reduce crime, thereby helping to create a safer and more friendly environment for all those who live, work, shop or visit the town centre."
The CCTV system went 'live' just before Christmas with the operating of seven of the nine cameras within the town centre. The success of the scheme is already showing, with 15 incidents now being followed up by police as a result of the operating cameras.
Attending the launch were representatives of the commercial, community and statutory sectors.
Speaking of the uses and benefits of CCTV in aiding regeneration of town centres like Omagh, Ann Doyle said: "Over past years you have shown remarkable resilience and courage and that deserves every opportunity to live in a town where prosperity and peace live side by side. Omagh has earned it and as time goes on you can only expand on it."
Referring to the Temple Bar area of Dublin, she went on to say that although there would be almost 70,000 traffic vehicles passing through that area daily, the installation of just eight cameras had made a dramatic difference to the rate of crime in that particular area, with reports that it has dropped by almost 50%.
Speaking of those supporting CCTV, Ms Doyle continued: "Visitors are voting with their feet because they are going into the town and now enjoy the amenities without being concerned about someone coming round the corner to mug them."
Concluding she said: "I admire your courage and knack of being able to get up and dust yourself off, and I am convinced that you will go on to different, better things."
Delight
Expressing delight to have the long-awaited scheme up and running, Cllr. Paddy McGowan, chairman of Omagh Safer Streets Ltd, explained that the work put into the system had been very detailed and intensive.
"For the majority of us involved, this has without question been the most technical and challenging project to manage. We are delighted to have reached this stage, demonstrating that after many months of preparation the high tech CCTV scheme is now live. What we now have in Omagh is state-of-the-art cameras spread throughout the Town Centre, the equal to any other such system in these islands."
Mr McGowan said that as an elected representative he had been campaigning for many years for this development, and added that from his time with Ulsterbus he knew of the benefits of having CCTV.
"With CCTV we are now able to help Omagh take another step forward. Wouldn't it be great if we had no antisocial problems and people were very confident about walking through the town at night, window shopping with no shutters on shops and taking it easy.
"It would be foolish of me to say that CCTV will bring all this about on its own. It can't and it should not be expected to. It's a start and CCTV needs other measures and projects to make this happen. Now with CCTV we have another example that Omagh is moving in the right direction towards a safe and secure environment for all," he said.
"What we are providing is the first CCTV system run independently of policing, that is without police operators, and outside police station
environments. There is a link with police, but police demands on the system are structured within a Code of Practice managed by Omagh Safer Streets Ltd.
Hurdles
"In developing the system we have come across hurdles, which no other such CCTV scheme has had to face and we have done this successfully. We have even set up a company to run the scheme all of this proving that in Omagh we can and we like to do things differently."
Mr McGowan added that the nine cameras were individually located to take account of a crime pattern analysis that shows the 'hot spots' around the town centre, and were strategically positioned to offer a net of coverage.
As Omagh town centre is a conservation area the equipment had been carefully blended in with the street furniture and streetscape, he added.
"CCTV will help towards making the town centre a more safe and secure environment for all. It will play a key role in acting as a crime deterrent and no law abiding citizen or visitor will have anything to fear. We will run the system professionally, responsibly, independently and effectively.
"CCTV is not a threat; it is those who assault, thieve, damage and burgle that are the threat. CCTV evidence is admissible in court and many other town and city centre CCTV systems throughout these islands can point to numerous examples of how such a system can help with crime reductions.
No guarantee
"However, while CCTV can make a difference, it is important to note that it will not cure every ill and we cannot guarantee that it will solve all the problems in the town centre and catch every crime," he said.
Mr McGowan added that the securing of CCTV had arrived as a result of strong public support. And he revealed that in the year 2000 independent widespread community consultation found 93% of the public surveyed were in favour of the scheme, along with 97% of the business community surveyed.
Mr McGowan said: "I hope that we can, as a town and community, build upon CCTV with additional community safety measures which will help to further improve the social and economic life of the town. Omagh town centre has been under pressure in recent years, most notably due to the terrible bomb of August 1998 and this CCTV scheme is an example of another project we have developed to support our urban regeneration. Indeed other important projects will soon follow to help create a very vibrant town."
Operating on a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year basis, the monitoring services have been subcontracted to Lisburn Security Services Ltd. a private security firm.
The cameras currently in operation are situated in Campsie, High Street, Castle Street, Scarffes Entry and Bridge Street, and another two cameras are expected to be installed at Market Street and John Street.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1030
Published Date: 07-Mar-02
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