Children to help launch Norwich's talking CCTV

24dash.com | April 17, 2007

By Pam Caulfield

A new weapon is to be introduced in Norwich's battle to combat anti-social behaviour in two of the city’s best-known parks - talking CCTV cameras.

Loud speakers will be used to directly challenge people caught on camera engaging in vandalism, graffiti-spraying, littering or other forms of anti-social behaviour in Eaton and Waterloo Park.

Offenders will hear a voice warning them they are on camera and asked to immediately stop what they are doing by staff working in Norwich City Council’s CCTV control room.

The cameras are being installed in partnership with the Government’s Respect Unit and Norwich is one of 20 areas receiving funding for Talking CCTV.

The council has received £35,000 for the installation of the cameras and will also contribute cash towards the monitoring system.

It is part of a wider campaign to promote good behaviour and challenge bad - a key theme of the Government’s Respect agenda.

Through a series of competitions and activities, local school children will be encouraged to act responsibly themselves and also to educate their parents and siblings about what is acceptable behaviour.

Norwich City Council is inviting schools to design a poster to be put up next to the camera.

The winning child or group of children in each area will be rewarded by visiting the Talking CCTV control room and being the voice that ‘tells off’ the adults. They will also receive a cinema voucher for the film of their choice.

Colin Penfold, Community Safety Manager for Norwich City Council, said it was not possible for parks to be guarded 24 hours a day or realistic to secure them to prevent people getting in at night.

Talking CCTV, he said, would be a great support to the parks staff and neighbourhood wardens who looked after them.

"Our experience tells us that the majority of people who behave anti-socially do so out of thoughtlessness and will stop when they are challenged in a reasonable manner,” he said.

“We hope the talking CCTV will allow us to make that challenge quickly and effectively. Involving local young people will also ensure the messages get home to the wider community and that we all work together to improve our parks.”

Louise Casey, the Government’s co-ordinator for Respect, added: "Promoting good behaviour and challenging bad is a key theme of the Respect Action Plan.

"Children are often criticised for their attitude, when in fact the vast majority know how to behave and recognize the bad behaviour of others, young and old alike.

“We want to remind people about what is, and what is not, respectful behaviour and we are encouraging children to send this clear message to grown ups - act anti-socially and face the shame of being publicly embarrassed. We hope that perpetrators will think twice before doing it again.”