Alison Hernandez: The power of CCTV in helping to create safer communities

I am proud to have invested nearly half a million pounds upgrading CCTV systems since I was appointed Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2016. 

This week I have launched a new CCTV fund scheme which is making a share of £125,000 available to councils, voluntary sector groups and other eligible organisations. The aim is to provide communities which need it the most with CCTV equipment and associated infrastructure. 

They are being invited to apply for a maximum grant of £10,000 to help keep residents safe and combat crime, as well as protect businesses which are struggling to deal with theft and antisocial behaviour. 

Recently I made a visit to Teignmouth to hear more about how it is battling against problems including shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and drugs - like so many seaside towns. To help Teignmouth tackle some of its issues, I am funding a 12-month free subscription to UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution which provides a quicker and easier way for businesses to report issues such as shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and violence to police. It is already delivering excellent results in other areas. 

I was really encouraged to hear how the Town Council has invested in state-of-the-art CCTV that is using AI and facial recognition technology to tackle offenders.  

AI cameras go beyond traditional cameras to identify specific objects, recognise behaviours and optimize image quality. The versatility of AI cameras has been shown by Devon & Cornwall Police which is using world first, state-of-the-art camera system to help detect impaired drivers. Since they started the trial in 2023, more than 10,000 people have been fined for breaking road laws after police trawled through the images collected. 

It has also collected 6,000 images of people breaking seat belt laws and 4,000 of drivers using their phones. Importantly, police have recorded a significant reduction in both of those offences. 

However, traditional CCTV cameras, which simply record footage, remain essential tools in combatting crime. At the beginning of the year I was delighted to be able to present a Commissioner’s Award to Exeter’s city centre CCTV Control Room operators, namely Megan Ward, after her great work helped convict an offender following a sexual assault in the city. 

Once again it highlights the true value of CCTV and how it can be used to track down offenders and prevent further incidents from taking place.  

In Plymouth, a multi-agency CCTV control centre with fully upgraded technology has been delivered through Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC). Hundreds of cameras now cover the city’s key transport routes, car parks, district shopping centres and city centre pedestrian areas. 

Direct links to enforcement colleagues, the police and PARC mean the CCTV and Urban Traffic Control teams can now work more closely together to monitor sites and respond to any issues and prevent them from occurring. 

Reducing the number of victims across the region remains a key focus of mine, as is providing victims with the right and timely support through being at the heart of police investigations and receiving support which is available through the Devon & Cornwall Police Victim Care Unit, regardless of whether a crime has been reported or not. 

I have always been a big advocate of the benefits of CCTV which is why I was determined to begin upgrading CCTV networks around Devon and Cornwall several years ago. 

That work has taken significant strides forward and I look forward to hearing how my new funding CCTV scheme will prove to be a great addition for even more communities. 

For more details about the new OPCC CCTV fund scheme please email: PCCCommissioning@dc-pcc.gov.uk