PEOPLE POWER WINS THE BATTLE FOR CCTV
Camera for St Leonards Square
Troublemakers will have nowhere to hide when a CCTV camera is installed at St Leonards Square next week.
People power prevailed after St Leonards Community Council succeeded in their bid to ramp up security in the area following an alarming spike in violent crime over the summer.
Worried residents had raised safety concerns with police following a spate of violence and youth disorder after the schools broke up for the holidays – which led to increased high-visibility police patrols.
And, in response to a horror broad daylight stabbing on High Common Road and an armed robbery in the bookies, community council chairman Graeme Macklin launched a bid for CCTV in the square.
The watchdog told the News this week he is “delighted” the community council has achieved such a major coup for the benefit of people in St Leonards.
The pilot scheme will see a state-of-the-art dome security camera erected at the entrance to the shopping centre for 12 weeks. It will have the capacity to capture trouble hotspots around the square.
Graeme said: “For the community council to have been so motivated to achieve this is fantastic.
“It’s good to know we have a voice that can reach to the right ears to get an action plan in place.
“This camera will make people feel safer and get people coming back to the square.
“It’s a fantastic deterrent that will stop opportunists looking to cause trouble.”
The community was rocked by a rare crimewave this year which blighted the relatively troublefree area.
Horrified shoppers spoke of their shock after a man was stabbed at St Leonards Square in broad daylight.
The 33-year-old was found lying in a pool of blood with stab wounds at around 1.15pm on High Common Road on July 29.
The area was busy with shoppers and pub-goers at the time who were making the most of the warm weather.
Concerned locals reported trouble flaring as a result of large groups of youths congregating in the area.
Street drinking, fighting and even reports of youths armed with weapons sparked fear in the community.
An increased police presence was sparked by an alleged baseball bat assault on a 16-yearold boy outside the Bonnie Prince Charlie pub in June.
And later that month a 14-year-old boy was allegedly ‘jumped’ by a group of youths in Glen Farrar.
Then in October, two hooded men carried out a terrifying armed raid on William Hill bookmakers with a suspected firearm.
They made off with a fourfigure sum of cash.
The crime prevention bid was a joint venture by the area’s community council and East Kilbride community safety officer, PC Laura Taylor.
Graeme praised PC Taylor’s efforts in support of the campaign, adding: “This has been a joint effort with Laura who has been wonderful in helping push this through.
“Notably, there has been no assistance or interest from any of our local councillors.
“This security measure cuts across everyone’s doorstep at the square; identifying undesirables lurking around and known criminals before they act.
“Hopefully this will be the start of something more permanent and will keep trouble away from our square.”
PC Taylor said: “We hope that the installation of a temporary South Lanarkshire Council CCTV camera at St Leonards Square will deter people from being involved in anti-social behaviour within the square and prevent disorder.
“We hope that it will provide reassurance to the community and, if we need, it should help us to identify those involved in criminality.”