New CCTV Camera added to Newark Market Place to Deter Criminals

Newark and Sherwood District Council hopes to reduce the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the town by adding a high definition camera in the market place.

A state-of-the-art temporary CCTV camera has been added to act as a preventative measure and provide increased coverage of Newark market place.

The new HD camera, funded by NDSC, in partnership with the police and town council, will serve as a deterrent against crime as the images will clear enough to identify and track offenders.

Councillor David Lloyd, council leader, spoke of the importance of CCTV in the town, "We work alongside the police to do everything we can to make our town centres safe places and it is without question that effective surveillance is crucial in crime enforcement. The new camera will complement the existing permanent CCTV already in the market place and offer a greater scope to prevent crime and maximise our public safety efforts.

“Crime and anti-social behaviour is down across Newark and Sherwood, including the town centre and we want it to stay this way. I hope the new camera will give people confidence in knowing that evidence from the cameras will be readily available and help ensure this downward trend continues.”

The new camera follows the police dispersal order which took place in the market place last weekend (August 10th and 11th) which allowed police to direct a person to leave an area for up to 48 hours to prevent harassment, alarm, distress, crime or disorder. Anyone who fails to leave when directed can be arrested.

Inspector Heather Sutton, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood Police said “We welcome this additional camera as one of the many tools we, the partnership, have put in place to ensure the continued reduction of anti-social behaviour. Police patrols have been stepped up over the summer months to manage the expected seasonal spike. We take a zero tolerance to anyone causing anti-social behaviour in the area.”

NSDC is currently in the process of upgrading its CCTV camera coverage across the district to improve security and enable more efficient and effective responses to incidents that are shared with Notts Police.