Police & Crime Commissioner calls on Milton Keynes City Council to support CCTV Partnership

Earlier this month the Thames Valley CCTV Partnership went live, with the first control room in Milton Keynes. Building on the previous partnerships between local authorities and the police, the vision of the new system being championed by Police & Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber is to have a sustainable CCTV system to detect and deter crime and keep the public safe. Already the increase in CCTV operators has seen the police able to intervene in serious crimes as they are being committed.

The work to go live with this first phase of the programme has seen a number of cameras brought back into use from the previous CCTV system run by Milton Keynes Council. CCTV is not a statutory responsibility of either the council or the police, but both bodies have a duty to fight crime and reduce serious violence. The new Partnership will see the cameras across Thames Valley operated and monitored by the police, with financial contributions being split between both the police and council. Phase 1 also includes Slough Borough Council, with Phase 2 being implemented later this year with five councils in Oxfordshire.

Additional funding is being provided by the PCC, which would mean that over the next four years the Council would pay less than one-fifth of the costs of the new system. Despite this however, Milton Keynes City Council have stated that they have “no additional revenue budget which can be allocated to CCTV”.

Urging the Council to plan for future investment, Matthew Barber said, “This is about a partnership. I recognise the importance of CCTV to residents and so I am investing millions of pounds over the coming years to ensure that we have a system that is fit for the future. Yet at a time I am increasing investment, the council seems to be pulling away from this important project despite its legal obligations for community safety and reducing violence.”

“Over the last two years I have increased funding for community safety that I provide directly to the Council by 29% in addition to supporting a number of other projects that have brought in extra cash to Milton Keynes. It is disappointing to the see the lack of commitment to CCTV, which is valued by residents.”

The Police & Crime Commissioner has written to the Council setting out proposals that would mean the Council is not required to make any significant contribution until 2027/28 and has urged the Cabinet to plan ahead to provide future funding.