Police in Salford have made 61 arrests thanks to the council’s CCTV network.
Eagled eyed operators directed police to 353 incidents in the last three months of 2015 – where they took 61 people away in cuffs. Arrests were made for offences such as attempted murder to burglary and criminal damage.
The council has direct access to police radios so operators can listen to live reports and help in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour.
Deputy City Mayor, Councillor David Lancaster said: “CCTV is an essential tool that we use to keep the street safe. Police officers cannot be in locations at all times, but we can scour vast areas and direct them to where they need to be.
“But the cameras aren’t always used to fight crime. When the floods hit on Boxing Day our operators were able to work closely with all emergency services to get help to where it was needed.
“People don’t always realise these hidden heroes are working behind the scenes to keep us safe.”
Detective Chief Inspector Clare Devlin, of GMP’s Salford Division, said: “CCTV is an invaluable weapon in fighting crime. Salford Council’s network of cameras allows them to pass information to officers on the ground and enable them to get swiftly to where they need to go.
“These results highlight both the vital role played by camera operators who work tirelessly behind the scenes and the importance of working closely with partner agencies to share information and keep the streets safe.”
Council staff monitor 129 state-of-the-art cameras across the city, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Information and footage is provided to the police so it can be used to investigate offences. It is also shared with housing providers so they can pursue tenancy action against nuisance tenants.
