Modern surveillance upgrade boost for market towns

CRIME-FIGHTING HAS been boosted with a major upgrade of closed circuit television which has been re-introduced in a market town for the first time in five years.

Police officers said vital intelligence has already been gleaned from the investment to improve surveillance of Malton and Norton town centres, and also restore cameras to Pickering for the first time since 2013.

Cameras were removed due to cuts by Pickering Town Council. The town will also benefit from the upgrade overseen by the Ryedale Cameras in Action (RCIA) charity.

The charity secured funding for the £50,000 scheme from the town councils of Malton and Norton, Ryedale District Council and Pickering in Business, as well as the Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and local businesses.

The two town councils and the Pickering business group have also agreed to cover the system’s annual running costs.

Martin Dales, RCIA’s chairman, said: “I want to thank all those who have shown their support to fund a replacement system when there are so many other pressures on finances.”

The new system is monitored by Scarborough Borough Council.

Inspector Martin Dennison, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The system is already proving its worth as it has helped us with our inquiries into criminal activity in all three towns.”