CCTV

[Styles]

What about haveing who ever is ment to be watching the cctv actually patroling the street!

[Ally]

What about haveing who ever is ment to be watching the cctv actually patroling the street!

 

Mainly because the lerwick contabulary are keener spend their time stopping motorists for minor infringements (slightly dirty number plates, going 32mph in a 30-zone etc etc), than they are to get out of their warm patrol cars and police the cross.

[Styles]

Thats mabey why they have got that bye law coming in place that you cant get in a night club after midnight coming in, thinking it will mean less patrols for them, but to me it will make things worse as think about all the people mad they cant get in a club! Not sure if it effects pubs.

[Twerto]

Clubs aer probably happy for this by law though as most places are empty till about 23:00 - midnight.

 

As for CCTV. I say use the money spent on teh dog agaisnt drugs and spend it on cctv.. and then the money will be better spent.

[Evil Inky]

What about haveing who ever is ment to be watching the cctv actually patroling the street!

 

Mainly because the lerwick contabulary are keener spend their time stopping motorists for minor infringements (slightly dirty number plates, going 32mph in a 30-zone etc etc), than they are to get out of their warm patrol cars and police the cross.

 

( Playing Devil's Advocate )

Could that be because road accidents cause more deaths and serious injuries than drunken anti-social behaviour ?

[niceday]

The CCTV system will be a waste of money. Understandably, people are concerned about Friday and Saturday night violence and vandalism. Invariably there is (copious quantities) of alcohol involved in these crimes in Shetland (as elsewhere) and the research suggests that CCTV doesn't reduce this type of offending- people are too pissed to be deterred.

 

Will make lazy cops life easier (increaing their rather meaningless detection rates by which forces are judged) which is primarily why they are promoting it (especially if they can persuade the funding to come from someone else's budget).

 

It is such an unimaginative solution to the problem - we should be looking across the pond to Norway for solutions - brilliant examples of empowering local communities to tackle crime - rather than looking down south for authoritarian and expensive methods.

[peeriebryan]

So I see the CCTV cameras are on their way. The counci had a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter (SIC looks at CCTV for Lerwick) and have decided to proceed as "quickly as possible" (Rush to fit security cameras)

 

Drew Ratter is quoted as saying that there is "an enormous rush" to get the cameras installed. "But if this is what everybody wants, than that's alright". If the opinions of Shetlink contributors is anything to go by, it is certainly not "what everybody wants"

 

The cynic in me might think that the recent statement released by the police (see below) was an attempt to stir up a bit of public hysteria before the council meeting. Re-read the statement, bearing in mind that none of the predicted trouble actually happened, and consider what the police's motives may have been

 

 

The Police have advised that they are anticipating further trouble between south and north mainland youths this weekend in the town.

 

Anyone intending to come to the town this weekend are asked to be extra vigilant and take care. Likewise if you have children you may wish to advise them to avoid the town centre this weekend too.

 

Anyone found to be involved in any trouble will be arrested.

 

Thank you.

 

*********************

Community Safety Officer

Shetland Islands Council

 

In respect of earlier postings issued within the Shetland Islands Council mail system, I should like to take this opportunity to emphasise that Police are well aware of the rumours and "informations" being circulated both verbally and by Internet chat forums. I should also like to point out that such "informations" are not unique and actually re-appear on an almost annual basis.

 

It should be noted that police responses to all manner of incidents is measured and implemented as and when required, using such lawful powers as required.

 

Lerwick town centre is not to be regarded as any form of no-go area for any sector of our community and indeed utilisation of the towns facilities is welcomed and encouraged.

 

************

A/Inspector

Community Safety

Northern Constabulary

Lerwick

[Styles]

I agree. Most folk who seem to want it seem to think these young folk have been haveing running battles on the street, when they have not. Plus the spate of people getting atttacked etc was by a hardcore group who the police took ages to stop.

 

I think its going to cause more problems with fights up lanes etc out of the way where they cant be seen or stopped. Leading to worse injuries and less witnesses.

 

the drinking bye law and the other law coming in that you cant get into places after midnight are other things that have been introduced due to hysteria and the police playing on this and pushing for there introduction.

 

Bit like dogs against drugs as well.

[trout]

See since the Shetland police turned into the "Highlands and islands" police .. or rather "Inverness" police .. their attitude to Shetland crime is to use the same model that they use "doon Sooth" to combat it.

 

What they are doing potentially is instead of combating "modern day" Shetland crime with "effective" Shetland police measures .. is rather pulling social policing issues up here to Shetland in the comparative policing model they have artificially imposed on the islands from areas that are in-comparable to here.

 

I will be as bold to say that the introduction of very visible CCTV cameras to "combat crime" is going to do nothing more than compound the issue and force it either outwith the peripheral vision of such cameras .. or as was pointed out "up the lanes"! and or other more outlying Lerwick areas.

 

Where's the "bobby on the beat" that is the "era" of policing that Shetland IS still in!

 

I LOVE the fact that you've pointed out the recent "scandal" with the apparent crazed teenage gangs in Shetland! I have held quiet for fear of my own disbelief as I thought at that point .. "Hmm... wonder if they're gonna push for these cameras now then?" !!! ...

[Claudias]

I did hope that starting this link would generate a call for the mobile unit to be brought to Shetland to test the feasibility of the project. But,typical SIC, money is no object,we must have our own,so full steam ahead. Let's see how long they last before being vandalised.

[Njugle]

They will reap what they sow, and that is covert crime, gang mentality and further police resentment. They are apparently all wrong on this one. The cameras will become a "game" to those that they are there to police. I doot it's missing the point.

[JustMe]

I wonder.....in my youth we would hang around the town centre late at night just hanging around doing nothing. The sight of the police panda car was an excuse to tap someone on the shoulder, point out the car and then all run down some car proof lane.

 

Reckon we could have had even more fun if there were cctv cameras.

[trout]

Surveillance society reaches Shetland

MURDO MACLEOD

 

THERE really is no escape. The all-seeing eye of CCTV is making its way to Shetland.

 

Britain's most northerly group of islands is spending £200,000 to install 14 closed-circuit TV cameras around the islands' capital, Lerwick.

 

The move has been driven by growing fears about antisocial behaviour linked to drink in Lerwick, but comes despite the islands having the second-lowest number of crimes of anywhere in Scotland.

 

Shetland has advertised for a provider to set up the 14 cameras around Lerwick, with the town's harbour being a particular focus for the devices. It is expected that the systems will be installed some time next year.

 

Read rest of article here

[david_jam]

The CCTV system will be a waste of money. Understandably, people are concerned about Friday and Saturday night violence and vandalism. Invariably there is (copious quantities) of alcohol involved in these crimes in Shetland (as elsewhere) and the research suggests that CCTV doesn't reduce this type of offending- people are too pissed to be deterred.

 

Will make lazy cops life easier (increaing their rather meaningless detection rates by which forces are judged) which is primarily why they are promoting it (especially if they can persuade the funding to come from someone else's budget).

 

It is such an unimaginative solution to the problem - we should be looking across the pond to Norway for solutions - brilliant examples of empowering local communities to tackle crime - rather than looking down south for authoritarian and expensive methods.

 

And we could completely ignore having to comply with down south if we regulated ourselves, which is more of a possibility than many give it credit for!

 

Oh and the reason why the police crack down on motorists, is because they have increased powers to stop and search your vehicle than they do with regards to your personal self on the street. They are more likely to find an offence in relation to your vehicle, due to these increased powers with regards to vehicles (i guess because vehicles could be described as a 'weapon in your hands'). Thus, they can set about meeting conviction standards which are set by the UK Government... of course, all very artificially (in a sense). I think we could police ourselves much more sensibly. The Criminal Justice Procedure in Britain isn't all that great!

[david_jam]

They will reap what they sow, and that is covert crime, gang mentality and further police resentment. They are apparently all wrong on this one. The cameras will become a "game" to those that they are there to police. I doot it's missing the point.

 

From my thinking, this is true. On a theoretical level, only by sourcing the reasons, conditions, circumstances that lead to crime will any meaningful reduction in crime occur. Which is a massive social issue. Too many people with vested interests in order to address these issues, so we are left with coming up with measures of 'cracking down' on crime which often do little but encourage further, increased crime, as the divide (between 'criminals world' and 'non-criminal world') but only widens. But the police have a duty to protect public interests (as regards to protection from crime) as a whole, in the here and now. Which breeds the drive with such measures. Which only contributes to the downward cycle. If I ever fine the 'answer' (via my 'comparative criminal procedure' honours course) i'll let da whole world know. Morbidly, thats very unlikely, due to the intrinsic nature of us human. how sad. Humans and their modern society