CCTV needed for Luton, Chatham

Much attention is now upon the Conservative administration and Cllr Mike OBrien over the provision of additional CCTV units for Luton Road.

Over the last three months I have been working with local PACTs and residents on efforts to improve community safety in an area of Chatham with a known problem of anti-social behaviour and documented issues around criminality; Luton Road

The same Luton Road even featured on a fly-on-the-wall crime documentary.

On taking office in 2011, I made it my priority to work with PACTs, Police and the local community to make it a safer place to live.

No area is perfect; and indeed every inner city ward with significant transience and embedded social disadvantage would lead to inherent problems, and yes Luton does have a number.

That being said the community in Luton is strong and proud and it wants to stand up to the criminality.

Since taking office the Councillor team working with residents have seen some notable successes; the expansion of the dispersal zone and the safeguarding of community ward officers despite the cuts seen elsewhere. It is clear that both these facts suggest the Police know the area has its challenges and issues.

Residents have also volunteered to step forward at full council to push for increased action on anti-social behaviour from the Council; with two questions at the last two full council meetings. It is clear from feedback from PACTs that major concerns remain.

It is for this reason I opened up conversations with the Tory Portfolio holder for Community Safety and Chair of the Medway Community Safety Partnership (a grand title), Cllr Mike OBrien, for a further three CCTV units to support the that three already exist at the Chatham highstreet end of Luton Road.

Sadly, after an initial warm reception to the idea it became increasingly clear that officers were unwilling to fund three additional units at the cost of aprx £20,000.

£20,000 is not a grand sum, and is actually, given the constant pressures in the community a small sum to make people feel safer in their locality. I thought it was a no brainer from an officer who has made it clear that Chatham should be priority.

Alas, after my requests were made the standard funding complaints were given with the 'line' that not enough people had made complaints to justify the scheme. This, if true, is just not born in reality with the facts on the ground given the same information is being used to retain Police numbers at high levels or indeed the dispersal zone.

There is alas a culture of unreporting which is standard in areas like Luton. It happens when people become normalised to certain activities and choose to ignore it. In any other area a rowdy neighbour or someone smashing a bottle may result in a call to the Police; my suspicion is that the same activity does not in parts of Medway.

The Police are of course aware of this; and choose to prioritise resource on the basis of intelligence not solely related to raw statistical calls from the public. A narrow indicator if used on its own. It is clearly a demand area despite the recent comment that only 22 people have complained. £20,000 is money that could have a real impact and quick and could transform and aid the Police in enquiries.

After getting no luck with Cllr OBrien; I have since written to the portfolio holder for finance to secure Member Priority Funding for the bid.

Member Priority Funding is utterly without transparency and which historically, I have noted, rarely been awarded to opposition Councillors. In my mind it looks and smells like a fund for Tories to give to themselves; it is one of those funds which has little attributable analysis on need; seemingly awarded at the behest of those who seek electoral gain.

However; I put my name in the frame.

As yet no response.

It is not a surprise the community feel let down; as the youngest Councillor it is clear that senior Tories are happy to blame constituents for not getting in touch whilst ignoring the fact that a public question at full council is a form of communication in its own right - and a brave one that takes time.

It is sad that four months later we have no sight of additional CCTV units whilst we can have major overspends on bus stations; the public dont make capital v revenue distinctions. They see other funding projects which do not impact community safety given larger sums of funding, whilst there is not even an acknowledgement on a process for the decision behind Members Priority Funding on this item.

I understand Tories dont want to prioritise the local community in Luton because they didnt vote for them; but its time they did something that really would improve the lives of local people who do feel let down.

I dont care who gets the credit, or poses for the camera, or cuts the red ribbon; just stop ignoring people.

Luton deserves better; and as the local Councillor I will do everything I can to win for it.