CCTV cameras could be installed in Okehampton in the battle to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade has been looking into the possibility of installing CCTV in the town for several years and has now put together a proposal for a radio-transmitted system. Traders believe the cameras would reduce crime and the fear of crime among local people and act as a deterrent to vandalism. The proposal has been put together with national security firm ADT Security, who will have a mobile unit stationed in Okehampton town centre throughout the day next Thursday. April 21. People will be able to view the range of equipment proposed. The company will also make a presentation about the proposed system at that evening?s meeting of the chamber of trade, which takes place at the Plume of Feathers, Okehampton from 6pm. Kay Bickley, from the chamber?s CCTV working group, said in terms of the cost of introducing such a system, they were looking at a ?ball-park figure? of around £60,000. The system would feed back pictures from a number of cameras positioned around the town to one centrally located base station. Mrs Bickley said: ?With the current emphasis on curbing anti-social behaviour, the newer CCTV systems which have evolved can provide good evidence which can be used for successful prosecutions.? Mrs Bickley said the radio transmitted system could be installed with the ?least disruption? to town businesses as it would not require the road to be dug up for cables to be laid. Police in Okehampton have been involved in discussions, with the crime reduction officer Angie Frost and the officer with responsibility for CCTV meeting with chamber representatives. ADT are a national security firm who have recently installed CCTV systems in Totnes and Torbay.
