Buckie and Keith among towns to benefit from improved CCTV
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MORAY Council and Police Scotland have worked together to update CCTV in towns across Moray.
Councillors approved £150,000 to replace all cameras, back office equipment and the instal additional cameras in places identified as hotspots for antisocial behaviour, crime and missing persons.
The announcement comes just over one month after police in Elgin announced that they would be setting up dedicated patrols in the town following a number of reports of antisocial behaviour.
The equipment is now operational in Elgin with Forres, Lossiemouth, Buckie and Keith set to benefit next.
Moray Council will provide the equipment while Police Scotland will undertake the monitoring.
Cllr Marc Macrae, Moray Council Convenor, said: "The uncomfortable truth for many is that CCTV is necessary and investing in it is essential.
"The partnership between Police Scotland and Moray Council allows us to roll this programme of upgraded cameras and equipment out, with the safety of Moray residents the main focus for both agencies. My hope is that it will act as a deterrent and will reassure people in Moray that we all take seriously our role in keeping people safe."
Chief Inspector Simon Reid, Area Commander, added: "The recent upgrade to the CCTV equipment in Elgin, and now ongoing across Moray, is welcomed. This project has seen the replacement of cameras, monitoring equipment and increased CCTV coverage across Moray.
"Police use of public space CCTV by our experienced operators here in Elgin, is not just as a responsive tool to evidence crimes that may have occurred but critically to deter or allow us to proactively respond to prevent these taking place in the first place.
"We further routinely use CCTV to search, trace and locate often vulnerable individuals within our communities such as missing people. Working with Moray Council, this upgrade greatly enhances our ability to collectively keep Moray one of the safest communities to live and work in the country."
