Communications Centre

CCTV

Talking CCTV

Barking and Dagenham is the first borough in London to unveil its new weapon against crime and street offences - Talking CCTV.

The innovative new technology was funded by £25,000 from the Government Respect Task Force.

The talking cameras will be used in the fight against crime, litter and antisocial behaviour and are part of a wider package of measures including a CCTV mounted smart car, that the borough has put in place to tackle these problems.

The new technology has been fitted to 16 of the borough's existing cameras and are located in hot spots around the borough.

The cameras have been fitted with equipment, that include audio cards and loudspeakers which are activated by officers in the Barking and Dagenham Council's secure CCTV control room.

The Talking CCTV cameras are aimed at getting the public to reflect on their behaviour and the example they are setting to others, especially children.

Residents will be confronted with messages asking them to keep their valuables safe, telling them that their behaviour is being monitored and to not drop litter.

Other messages will be added to help reinforce the existing messages about what is acceptable behaviour, and it is hoped it will help those on the street challenge people when they act irresponsibly.

CCTV controllers also have the option of speaking directly to people if they believe they are acting irresponsibly and can ask them to stop doing something.

Competitions are also being run in schools and the winning schoolchildren will be invited to become some of the voices of talking CCTV later this year.

This initiative will help educate children about acceptable behaviour while at the same time reminding them of the correct way to behave.

Councillor Val Rush, Executive Member for Safer Neighbourhoods and Communities, said:

"The talking CCTV cameras will help our residents and streets feel safer and make people feel less vulnerable when they are out and about in the borough.

"Crime in the borough is already falling faster than the London average and this new technology along with our initiatives will no doubt help us lower our crime rate even further."

In addition to the Talking CCTV, the Council has also launched a high-tech SMART car on the borough's streets. The car is fitted with CCTV camera's, including one mounted on a 2-metre pole on the vehicle's roof.

During the day the vehicle will be used by traffic enforcement officers to ensure the smooth and safe passage of traffic on the borough's highways.

In the evenings it will be employed to detect, record and inform police of antisocial behaviour.

Councillor Rush added: