Keeping a very close eye on the towns

A dedicated telephone line to enable rapid, uninterrupted communication between CCTV operators and the Police has been set up as part of Bolsover Community Safety Partnership’s work to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder across the district.

And cameras in Bolsover, Shirebrook and South Normanton are being continually monitored at peak periods as part of the “Eye-Time” project.

The new contact line will enable those monitoring the cameras to let Police know in real time when an incident is occurring.

Experience from other areas shows that if Police can intervene in incidents at an early stage, the chances of them escalating into something more serious or flaring up again later are cut.

Police can also use the system to request viewing, monitoring and recording of specific incidents. The images recorded by the system are of evidential quality and could be used in court if required.

Thanks to funding from a Home Office night time economy grant for work on alcohol related crime and disorder, Eye-Time monitoring will continue until the end of the current financial year.

A close eye will be kept on how successful the project is proving and it will be fully evaluated at the end of March.

Eye-time monitoring is one of a range of projects and actions operating in Bolsover District to help reduce alcohol-related incidents for everyone living, working and visiting in the district.

Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Brian Murray-Carr said: “This extra-intensive monitoring of the cameras in our town centres should reduce the number of incidents and help everyone feel safe when they are out.”