CCTV facing budget cuts
COST-CUTTING measures could mean that CCTV services in Soham and Ely could no longer be monitored 24 hours a day.
Currently, 40 CCTV cameras are monitored by a specliast team at Cambridgeshire County Council in the basement of the Guildhall, in Cambridge city centre.
But East Cambridgeshire District Council, which pays for the service, needs to make cutbacks because of intense budgetary challenges in the current financial climate and is re-assessing its CCTV provision because councils provide the surveillance cameras as a discretionary service.
It is also faced with an increase in monitoring rates charged by Cambridgeshire City Council.
From January, East Cambridgeshire is considering a record-only service, which would mean footage from cameras would not be watched 'live' but recorded and reviewed later.
Currently, 12 cameras operate in Soham, covering areas such as the recreation ground and Soham Village College and 28 cameras operate in Ely, covering the market square and a number of other locations, including car parks.
"As everyone is aware, we live in very difficult financial conditions at present," said Cllr Peter Cresswell, chairman of community services committee at East Cambridgeshire Council.
"Local authorities are facing tough decisions regarding the services which they provide to the public and, unfortunately, we are no different in East Cambridgeshire.
"We have had initial discussions with both the City of Ely and Soham Town Councils who have expressed interest in delivering the service at a local level.
"As we look to move forward with developing a new service it is important that we do so not only in partnership but with public safety as out clear priority."
Cllr Cresswell said CCTV was one of the most expensive non-statutory services a council could provide.
Cameras installed in Soham and Ely were originally Government-funded with the aim of reducing vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour, violence, theft and criminal damage.
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