14 February 2008
CCTV operators in Caerphilly County Borough are being praised for their diligence and promptness in dealing with a recent incident in the area.
Gwent Police officers received a report that a burglary had taken place in the Blackwood area, during which car keys were stolen and a vehicle driven away by the offenders.
CCTV staff were immediately notified and provided with the vehicle's registration number, and within 30 minutes, staff at the CCTV control room had located the vehicle on the cameras in the Risca area.
Police officers were then able to apprehend and arrest two suspects for the burglary.
Inspector Paul Staniforth of Gwent Police praised the excellent example of partnership working, and said, "The prompt and diligent actions of the CCTV control room staff on this night was instrumental in locating the offenders and recovering the stolen vehicle - the service they are providing to the community truly is outstanding."
CCTV is a key tool employed by the Safer Caerphilly County Borough Community Safety Partnership and the scheme has been expanded from an initial 13 cameras in Caerphilly town centre to round the clock monitoring of 129 cameras across the whole area.
Caerphilly County Borough Councils cabinet member for the environment, Cllr David Poole said, "CCTV is helping in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. The system provides admissible evidence and can on occasions eliminate certain problems."
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