Over £1.5m spent on CCTV cameras

Rochdale Council has spent over £1.5m on CCTV cameras across the borough since 2007, new figures reveal.

Figures obtained by Big Brother Watch, show that £1,518,608 was spent on installing and operating 125 cameras, over the four year period.

It means that the council have paid out over £375k for the past four years on CCTV.

The council says the cameras are cost effective and play an important part in reducing crime.

Andy Glover, Safer Communities Manager at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “CCTV cameras have played an important part in our success in cutting both crime and the fear of crime around the borough. We are committed to continuing to use them as we aim to build on our success and make the borough an even safer place.

“We believe that the cameras are extremely cost effective considering the benefits they provide. The bulk of the budget pays for staff to monitor the cameras with other spending areas including the cost of acquiring and maintaining the cameras.”