Spy camera bid to catch flytippers faces defeat
CIVIC leaders look set to dump plans to buy and install CCTV cameras to catch flytippers in the Cotswolds.
Officers at Cotswold District Council were asked to look into buying and using cameras to aid their efforts in catching and fining the perpetrators.
But a report to be presented to council leaders next week recommends they should not go ahead with buying any cameras because of costs and potential legal issues.
Prices for a single camera, hardware and battery can range from £2,500 to £5,000.
Officers say there would also be substantial staffing time costs needed to gather and review information.
And there would also be investigatory and legal costs although these could be recovered if a prosecution were successful.
They also say the law relating to the use of surveillance equipment is complex and strict and is different depending on whether overt or covert cameras are being used.
Cllr Julia Judd (Con, Ermin), who seconded the motion by Tony Berry (Con, Kemble) in January which asked the council to look into buying and using the cameras, said she was very disappointed with the recommendation. “I would like to look into this further to see if there is a way around this,” she said.
Officers say the council has already invested £105,000 in extra staffing over the past three years and £200,000 has been spent on their ‘clean and green’ initiative to be able to investigate fly tips in detail and take action against those responsible.
Cabinet will consider the issue at their meeting on Monday.