CCTV scheme in Derry “exceeds expectations”

The group which runs a scheme aimed at reducing criminal behaviour and encouraging business confidence in Derry City centre has declared that the project has far exceeded their expectations.

In its first quarterly report, the Derry City Centre Initiative said early indications showed a fall in crime and disorder and a marked improvement in perceptions of safety in the city centre due to the introduction of CCTV camera throughout the city.

CCTV was launched in the city on 10 December 2001 by BBC’s Nick Ross and the first quarterly report reviews operation up to 17 March 2002.

During this three-month period, statistics showed that on-street assaults on the person have fallen by over a third with on-street theft and robbery down by over two thirds and burglary (both commercial and domestic) down almost 40%.

Brendan Duddy, Chairperson of City Centre Initiative, expressed his satisfaction at the Scheme’s first three months.

“We had worried that recording crime 24 hours a day would lead to a sharp increase in crime statistics during the first three months, as has been the experience in other cities. In fact, the Police are telling us that there has been a sharp fall in reported crime which simply means that CCTV is working well and people are seeing the benefits when they come into the city centre.”

Mr Duddy, a prominent city centre businessman, stressed that retailers and publicans have reported a greater sense of safety both for their businesses and among their customers since CCTV monitoring began.

He added: “This first quarter has been an encouraging start but we do not intend to become complacent. We are looking at ways to make the system even more effective and to make sure crime and disorder continues to fall in our city centre.”

(AMcE)