Surveillance renewed in £250,000 upgrade

CCTV cameras across Ashford borough will be replaced this year after the council pledged thousands to upgrade the technology.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) chiefs bosses agreed to invest in the surveillance cameras in 2016, stumping up a £250,000 budget to update the system.

It is not yet known exactly where all the new cameras will go, but they will be installed later this year.

ABC portfolio holder for parking Cllr Brad Bradford (Con) says there are 80 CCTV cameras across the borough.

He said: “The equipment we have got is good, but before we get to a point where we have to start paying a lot of taxpayers’ money to get engineers to fix them, we are upgrading them. We have a very good set-up at the moment and we are currently reviewing where the new cameras will go.

“I used to work as a security manager and consultant, I understand it very well and we have a very good system in the borough.”

Council bosses are replacing the cameras in Tenterden before moving to Ashford.

As well as static cameras, there are a number of PTZ machines in the borough, which are able to pan, tilt and zoom.

ABC spokesman Christina Bailey said the authority made a significant investment in the community safety service in 2016.

She said: “We carefully monitor and maintain the CCTV around the borough to ensure they are clearly visible and in working order. The purpose of the CCTV cameras is to prevent and detect crime and ensure that residents can go about their business in safety. The new cameras are set to be installed later this year.”

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Cllr Brad Bradford says the borough has a good CCTV system; a camera in the town