Body cams for street cleaners

Welshpool Town Council is considering arming its field staff with body cameras (similar to the one pictured) to assist in its fight against fly tipping and other types of unsociable behaviour.

The news comes as the council steps up its clampdown against the fly tippers following a spate of high profile cases of late, including 10 bags of rubbish being dumped at the Town Hall last week!

We can also reveal that three local residents have been issued with warnings after rubbish was traced back to them. We have also been told that the high profile incident we reported on Long Mountain in January is also set to lead to a prosecution.

“We are considering body cams for staff out in the field which will help us to catch anyone littering,” said Robert Robinson, Town Clerk.

“Three warning letters have been sent to the three already caught saying next time could lead to prosecution. Both Powys County Council and the Police are keen to support us in this fight.

Councillor Graham Breeze, chairman of the Council Services Committee, said the bodycams were just one of a number of ideas to be discussed at a March 1 meeting of the committee.

“This is just one of the ideas being put forward following meetings with a senior police officer which centred around anti-social behaviour and other issues affecting the town. It will be interesting to see whether the council feels this is a route we should be going down or not. It is important to investigate all our options.

“Fly-tipping is not just a local issue, it has become a national problem and has received widespread TV exposure in the last week.

“Prosecutions may well follow but we really have to dig-out the cause of the problem and it isn't rocket science. Reducing doorstep refuse collections has had a big effect and cutting the opening days at household waste recycling centres will only make the situation worse.” 

Meanwhile the Lib Dems have launched a new petition following the news that our recycling centres would only be open for three days a week.

Their Montgomeryshire Parliamentary Candidate Jane Dodds said: “People have told us that three days a week is not good enough, that’s why we are keeping up the pressure on the Council with a new on-line petition.”