Security camera idea at Telford business estate
Tuesday 18th January 2011, 8:00PM GMT.
Cameras could go up to deter criminals at the gates of industrial estates in Shropshire after business bosses suggested paying for them. The idea was revealed by Telford Business Partnership member Graham Wynn last night.
He asked West Mercia Police Chief Constable Paul West if the force would welcome business-funded Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras at the town’s key trade sites.
Mr West was glowing in his praise for the idea, adding he could see little reason why the scheme would not be successful.
Mr Wynn, who earned an OBE for services to road safety in 2006, said: “I’m interested in bringing businesses to Telford.
“One of the things potential investors are always interested in is looking at initiatives to make our industrial estates as safe as possible. We get lots of criminals who travel in from outside the Midlands, or from Liverpool, targeting our businesses.”
Mr Wynn’s firm, Telford Training Consultants, employs 65 people at Hadley Park East, Hadley, Telford.
Mr West, who was speaking at a police consultation meeting at Telford Civic Offices last night, said the cameras could provide an instant alert to the national number plate database.
He said: “ANPR has been hugely successful in lots of investigations.
“Some high-profile criminals’ movements have been tracked in incredible detail.
“It’s terrific stuff and there’s absolutely no reason that I can see why we wouldn’t support what you are saying.”
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Yes, of course, that’s a grand idea. After all, criminals will always use their own vehicles and never fit stolen plates to them.
And if the criminals are travelling in from Liverpool or elsewhere, then they’re passing ANPR cameras on the motorway network and on the main trunk roads down to Telford (most obvious being on the Whitchurch bypass, but more scattered around), so the police have plenty of time to stop them if they want to.
And if they don’t stop them coming into the area, why would they do so if they happened to drive into an industrial estate?
And how can Mr. Wynn say with such confidence that criminals are travelling in from outside the area? What does he know that we don’t? Has he informed the police of the identities of said felons? And if they are known, then why haven’t these “high profile” criminals been nabbed already if they’ve engaged in criminal activity?
Or is this speculation which, when looked at closely, may bear no relation at all to the reality of the situation?
Save the investment costs of ANPR – hire night watchmen who are more able to respond to events in an appropriate manner.
Report abuse
I do agree, however the high costs of night-time security means its beyond the reach of most businesses.
I work on a small business park where we once looked at fitting some gates and cameras to improve security and restrict Travellers from parking up, and although some were willing to pay… most were not! Security vans that pull up a few times a night don’t work either as the criminals just wait until they have gone!
The only solution is hanging, if the courts hanged a few criminals then maybe many many more would be deterred from such crimes! If this thought disgusts you or even scares you then stay the right side of the law :)
Report abuse
ANPR is not some sort of silver bullet, it only works if the vehicle is displaying the correct registration number.
Report abuse
I am a professional security dog handler. I live in Telford and have offered to do security on sites all over Telford but they don’t want to know so they cant be that bothered about getting robbed all the tim. If they all joined in it would cost them next to nothing and they would be getting the very top end of security with a trained dog and hander.
Report abuse