Calls for council to provide CCTV grow after ‘theft’

Petition to go before council as taxi window is smashed in

CALLS for CCTV in Garnethill have intensified after a taxi driver’s window was smashed. Police were called to reports of a theft on Rose Street on Friday – just one week before a petition requesting cameras in the area goes before councillors.

Bill Beckett, from Garnethill’s Neighbourhood Watch, will urge the council to listen to residents’ pleas at the meeting on Thursday.

He claims some areas have been a “hotspot for drug abuse and assaults”.

A council spokeswoman said the council was aware of the “strong desire” for CCTV and the issue would be discussed at the meeting.

Between April and November last year, there were 196 anti-social behaviour incidents in Garnethill, a council report reveals.

This was a rise of 32 reports on 2019.

It is estimated installing CCTV would cost £42,000 per camera.

Mr Beckett said he first raised the issue around three years ago and is “very frustrated” no CCTV has been mounted.

The concerned resident wants two cameras to be fitted – one at the top end of Hill Street and another at the junction of Hill Street and Rose Street.

On Friday, Mr Beckett was alerted to an incident in one of the areas where he believes CCTV is needed, with photos showing a smashed taxi window.

Police Scotland confirmed officers were called to Rose Street.

A spokeswoman said: “Around 5.50pm on Friday, January 15, officers in Glasgow were called to the report of a theft from within a vehicle on Rose Street. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Mr Beckett added there has been “a lot of support” for the CCTV campaign. “They’re wanting more than two,” he said.

“To have CCTV would be a fantastic tool. You can identify the people involved.”

More than 500 people signed a petition in 2018 requesting Garnethill was added to the city council’s CCTV programme due to the “increasing amount of criminal activity in our area”.

A renewed petition got 132 signatures.

CCTV was first requested in

November 2016, after a car was burnt out, but a “single location that would give suitable coverage” could not be identified by staff and residents, a council report states.

The council helped residents to set up the Neighbourhood Watch in 2018.

A council report states staff have worked with Garnethill residents for several years on issues including anti-social behaviour, street drinking, overflowing bins and dog-fouling.

The council spokeswoman said: “We have regular contact with the community council in Garnethill to help address local issues.

“We are aware there is a particularly strong desire to have CCTV cameras installed and a petition to the council will be discussed on Thursday.”

She added that when the petition went before councillors in 2018, it was agreed further site visits were needed. At that time, it was decided there was no justification for cameras going in.

Before cameras could be installed, a privacy impact assessment has to be completed to minimise the risk of intrusion.