Police may be locked out of Council CCTV studio

Angry Welshpool Town Councillors are considering locking local police officers out of their Town Hall and charging them to view CCTV images.

The move, which will be discussed at a full Town Council meeting on Wednesday night, follows last month’s meeting over CCTV developments with Police & Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewellyn.

A report says: “Following the meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner councillors were very unhappy with the responses received with regards to CCTV.

“The councillors have expressed concern that promises made in a number of areas have not moved forward, the same way as with the last Commissioner. The Councillors have expressed the view that they had hoped for better. With this background the following is put forward for consideration.

Recommendation:

The Committee recommends to Council the following actions:

a) To express deep concern that it has taken so long to take forward any CCTV plans as promised at the first meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

b) To express deep disappointment that Welshpool is not be considered as a priority for CCTV bearing in mind that they are the town in Montgomeryshire which has invested in its CCTV.

c) To write to the Police and Crime Commissioner giving one months’ notice that the Police will no longer have access to the CCTV system without paying for it. The suggested rate is £25 to look at it and £75 for a copy. A member of staff will be in attendance.

d) The Local Police are asked to return the keys to the Town Hall.

e) The system will still record and evidence will be made available as above or to a Solicitor, Loss Adjuster and member of staff