New mobile cameras aimed at stamping out crime

The new CCTV cameras are being deployed on five streets in Walton

Areas of a Surrey town are to get new CCTV cameras in an effort to stamp out antisocial and violent behaviour.

The mobile cameras will go up in five spots across Walton, dubbed the “most dangerous” major town in Surrey by the website crimerate.co.uk.

They have been paid for by the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

An Elmbridge Borough Council spokesperson said the cameras will "act as a deterrent against street drinking, littering and illegal parking, allowing everyone to enjoy our borough”.

The mobile cameras will go up in Ashley Park, Cowey Sale, Ambleside Avenue, Hepworth Way, and Drewitts Court car park, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.  

According to official police figures there were 214 reported crimes in central Walton with 51 reports of violent or sexual offences for the first three months of this year.

According to crimerate.co.uk there were 109 crimes per 1,000 people in Walton last year.

This, it says, “compares poorly” to Surrey’s overall crime rate and comes in at more than 76% higher than the county-wide rate of 62 per 1,000.

The total grant to Elmbridge Borough Council will be £273,000, part of which will also pay for outreach programmes and security measures in the Drewitts Court car park.

Councillor Kirsty Hewens, portfolio holder for enterprise, parking and local economy, said: “We want our residents and visitors to not only feel safe in Elmbridge but to take pride in our towns, parks and green spaces."

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