How extensive is the network of CCTV cameras in York?We monitor 59 cameras for ourselves [City of York Council], we also monitor police station cameras and a number in the A&E department at the hospital. In addition to that, we have people patrolling on the ground during day, in the car parks. Car park crime statistics have dropped like a stone since CCTV has been in place – before CCTV it was quite an epidemic. Are there any particularly revealing cameras?The most problematic area from a public order point of view is the Micklegate run – we’ve got four cameras which monitor that. But there are different types of problems at different times of night. The Micklegate run tends to be quite busy up until about 11 or 12 o’clock. Then it dies down again until two or three in the morning, when nightclubs start throwing people out. To what extent do you believe the events you monitor are drink-related?| "CCTV is an enormous force for good, it’s not something people should be worried about. It’s rather like guardian angels watching over people." | |
In the city centre, after around 11.30pm, there’s a significant element of alcohol consumption in everything. We see lots of stupid things – stupid as in really dangerous. People deciding at one or two in the morning that it’s a really wonderful time to go swimming. And the River Ouse, even in the middle of summer, is a really cold river. Usually, the emergency services have to attend to pull them out, because they’re thoroughly exhausted. What do you think the effect of the new licensing laws will be?My personal view is that it does seem to make a great deal of sense to be able to stagger the times when people come out of pubs, so that they’re not all being thrown out onto the streets at the same time. Of course, it’ll remain to be seen whether that actually happens. What’s the worst behaviour you’ve known to be monitored via CCTV?There’s a perception that there’s a lot of vandalism and a lot of violence that takes place in the city centre, and that’s not the case. Clearly it’s not the sort of place your maiden aunt ought to go. But in general, York is a very, very safe place. However, one of the operators did once witness a very serious assault, when somebody was stabbed. And not only did she call the emergency services – including an ambulance – but through very clever camera work followed the assailant all the way through the city centre and was able direct the police officers to where that individual was, to effect an arrest. Do the operators develop an ability to anticipate events? | | Watching from above... |
Our staff are very experienced at identifying problems even before they become a problem. I’ve been in a control room many times before, just talking to the operators, and all of a sudden, like a hound pointing at something, they’ll be off watching an incident and I look at the camera and I think ‘what on earth are they watching?’, and then all of a sudden things start to happen and they’ve already got recording devices going, even as the thing is building up. They’ve got a sixth sense. Is it standard procedure to alert the authorities when you see something occurring then?The events are monitored and tracked where appropriate, and the authorities are informed. We’re also connected to the police radio network, and during the day to the Shop Watch security system. And at night we go into a Pub Watch. So effectively, we can alert pubs and shops to incidents, to expect groups of people coming their way. And we can also talk directly to the police as they can to us. Do you think people know they’re being watched?Strangely enough, no! We’ve got a lot of signs around which tell people, but there's one particular place which is very common for drug dealing, and it’s a bench, right underneath a CCTV camera. The number of people we actually pull up sitting on the bench is incredible, but they still carry on doing it – they seem to be oblivious to this dirty great black thing sitting above them! What about when you’re in town, knowing you’re being watched – does that make you feel self-conscious?Sometimes yes! But we play a little game during quiet times… I wave to the camera, knowing it’s looking at me, and if the operator sees me the camera pops up and down. It’s the equivalent of a pilot wagging his wings. What would you say to people who claim that CCTV monitoring is an invasion of their privacy?CCTV is an enormous force for good, it’s not something people should be worried about. It’s rather like guardian angels watching over people. | 
