A LONG-awaited refurbishment of the Forest Shopping Centre finally got underway this week with hopes high that crime-busting CCTV will be installed within a matter of weeks.
Contractors have moved in to the centre this week to give it a facelift which includes repainting, making essential repairs and putting in place new signage.
It follows work earlier this year to put new plants into the centreÕs flower beds to create a better atmosphere for shoppers.
As reported by The Herald last year, traders at the centre are considering quitting the town in five years time when the leases at the centre are up for renewal unless vandalism and threats of intimidation are stopped.
Every year around £25,000, a quarter of the centreÕs annual budget, is spent on repairing shops windows or other furniture which has been vandalised. But hopes are high that the improvements and crime-fighting tactics will end the problems.
Once the improvement works are completed, a state-of-the-art CCTV will be installed to help traders and the police combat vandalism and other crimes that plague the Bordon shopping centre.
The high-density digital system will be in operation 24 hours a day helping to deter would-be criminals, making shoppers feel safer and providing the police with the essential evidence that they need.
Regular police crackdowns at the centre, such as the one carried out during the summer holidays, are also planned to make shoppers feel safer and deter vandals.
Sergeant Rick Davidson from Whitehill police station explained: ÒOne of the biggest problems that we have with policing areas like the Forest Centre is getting people to come forward. There are always people about who see things but getting them to come forward is tough.
ÒPeople are afraid to come forward and report what they see because of a perceived threat of intimidation or because of the inconvenience of having to attend court if they are needed.
ÒWhile we would still encourage anyone to report anything that they see, CCTV will reduce our need to find independent witnesses.
ÒWe have high hopes of the CCTVÕs usefulness.Ó