CCTV system in line for major overhaul

monitoring: Councils draw up plans with Police Scotland to upgrade cameras in Tayside

The CCTV system covering Tayside is set for a complete overhaul after being described as “no longer fit for purpose”.

The monitoring equipment at Forfar police station is so old that it still uses cathode ray tube monitors although its recording equipment has been updated from VHS tapes.

There are currently 87 cameras in public spaces in Dundee, 51 operating in Angus towns and 35 in the Perth and Kinross area.

Under plans drawn up in collaboration with local councils and Police Scotland, the entire system would be replaced with monitoring centralised in Dundee.

The Tayside Procurement Consortium is in the process of “scoping their requirements” for a contract to supply, deliver, install and maintain the new system.

The replacement system would use the latest digital camera and interpretation software technology, which enables faster responses to situations such as missing persons.

An event for potential suppliers was held last month as the strategy and specification of the new system’s requirements are being developed.

The advert states that the current system is “outdated and no longer fit for purpose”.

It is also expected that the maintenance costs – which totalled more than £250,000 in the last four years in Dundee alone – will be reduced.

The budget for the replacement system has not been specified, other than stating the figure will be in excess of £1 million.

A report to Angus councillors about the progress of the plans stressed the importance of the system being upgraded.

It said: “The cameras’ infrastructure (in Angus) was installed some time ago and whilst it has serviced the authority well, it is in need of updating and asset renewal from the existing analogue equipment.

“Cameras are currently monitored by Police Scotland in Forfar or Dundee, and the monitoring equipment in Forfar is now dated cathode ray monitors, although the recording equipment has been updated from the previous VHS tape recorder.

“The opportunity of a collaborative approach across the three councils in conjunction with Police Scotland has examined the options of combining all three council and police services into a central service in Dundee whilst retaining the ability to monitor cameras locally if required.”

The report adds the annual maintenance cost of the CCTV infrastructure could be reduced by using upgraded technology such as cameras being operated by Wi-Fi rather than being hardwired.

Police Scotland said the CCTV system was the responsibility of local authorities.

Cameras are currently monitored by Police Scotland in Forfar or Dundee, and the monitoring equipment in Forfar is now dated cathode ray monitors ... REPORT

In the picture – The CCTV system at Dundee police headquarters in 1999.