HART District Council is celebrating the success of a three-year CCTV partnership scheme with Rushmoor Borough Council.

Established in 2013, the CCTV team has since been involved in responding and helping to investigate more than 7,00 incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The joint service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as preventing and detecting crime, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour, while also providing a reassuring presence for residents and businesses.

The control room, based at Rushmoor Borough Council’s offices in Farnborough, monitors 120 cameras across Hook, Hartley Wintney, Odiham, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnborough, Yateley and Blackwater.

Speaking about the partnership, Steve Forster, cabinet member for environment and technical services at Hart District Council, said: “This three-year partnership has been a real success for both authorities.

“As well as the cost savings, we are able to provide an improved level of service as cameras are manned for more hours than could be sustained by each local authority independently.

“The CCTV operators have been flexible by responding to changing demand which includes extending the hours to cover longer licensing hours in both Fleet and Aldershot.”

Incidents recorded across the three-year span have included bank machine fraud, helping to trace lost or wanted people, public disorder particularly at night and road accidents.

Police forces and other agencies have benefited greatly from the resources available via the partnership between Hart and Rushmoor.

Ken Muschamp, cabinet member for business, safety and regulation at Rushmoor Borough Council, said: “Although the partnership is now well-established and has proved a success, we are not resting on our laurels, but looking for further improvements to the service.

“Currently, we are looking into relocating some cameras to areas where crime may be an issue, so they can act as both a deterrent and support to any investigations. 

“The number of incidents recorded over the three years is a true testament of the continued hard work delivered by this team.