Call for CCTV volunteers slammed

Volunteers should be able to "concentrate for long periods"

A plan to recruit civilians to monitor police CCTV cameras has been branded as like something out of Dad's Army, Dorset Police Federation has said.

Officers are looking for "community-minded" people to watch 26 cameras in three Dorset police stations.

Insp Phil Cheverton said having extra people to monitor the cameras would provide "added value" to policing.

But federation chairman Clive Chamberlain said it was "policing on the cheap".

"Is this the way forward for 21st Century policing? Dad's Army," he said.

I think policing should be about zero tolerance not policing at zero cost

Federation chairman Clive Chamberlain

"I think policing should be about zero tolerance not policing at zero cost.

"We would prefer that fully trained, professional personnel working from a police control room should be used in this critical area of alerting officers and the gathering of evidence.

"Considering that Dorset Police is the second most poorly centrally-funded force in the UK, it is little wonder that the force is compelled to continually rely on the public-spirited individuals who come forward and plug the gaps.

"But is this really the best way forward?"

He went on to say the federation does not "support the use of civilian volunteers in such a capacity".

Under the initiative, recruits would work in Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Blandford police stations.

'Peak periods'

If an incident takes place on their watch, volunteers will be able to take control of the camera and talk to police at the scene.

Insp Cheverton, north Dorset section commander, said: "Having the ability to monitor the cameras at peak periods will provide added value to policing, which helps us to maintain a very low crime level here."

Michael Warr, Blandford CCTV co-ordinator, said volunteers should be able to concentrate for long periods of time.

"Some technical ability in basic computer literacy would be beneficial but full training will be provided," he said.

In Wimborne, 10 volunteers have been monitoring CCTV cameras for the last four years.

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