MORE than £8,000 will be spent on installing four CCTV cameras in one of the safest villages in Surrey.
Bletchingley Parish Council has decided to invest in the surveillance system to replace its one roaming camera – affectionately known as Metal Mickey – which was sent to the scrap heap in August after failing to solve a single crime.
Initially one of the new cameras will overlook the war memorial, one will be located at Church House, and two will be installed outside the Whyte Hart public house – one to monitor the bus stop, the other to watch the High Street.
If there is room in the budget following the purchases, other cameras may follow.
Villagers, clubs and groups could even "sponsor" their own camera and link it to the central system – although no interest has been gauged at this point.
Since January there have been about 118 reported crimes in Bletchingley, which has one of the lowest crime rates in Tandridge. Of the crimes reported, many are viewed as petty crime, although some more serious offences have been noted.
But, far from fearing their new Big Brother society, villagers who spoke to the Mirror said the cameras would be a good thing.
"I do not think there has been a spike in crime to warrant this many CCTV cameras, but I do think that prevention is better than cure," said James Mee, 58, of Church Lane.
Hayley Layre, 29, of Barfields, said: "The main crimes that I am aware of in the area are petty things, like car windows being smashed in. I think if we can nip behaviour like this in the bud then it won't happen in the future. If people are aware they might be being watched then they are less likely to do it."
The landlady of the Prince Albert pub in the High Street, Marion Shipton, 49, said: "From a licencee point of view, I think the cameras would help to disperse the myth that any antisocial behaviour is to do with our pub. Alcohol-related crime isn't necessarily anything to do with us.
"I think CCTV cameras would be a good idea, but I don't think we will be investing in more cameras outside here."
The cost of installing the infrared cameras and linking them to a central system will cost the parish council about £8,115. It will also grant Surrey Police the use of the cameras for covert recording.
According to the parish council, the new surveillance system has been modelled on a similar scheme run by Leybourne Parish Council in Kent, which has been deemed a success – although that system has 17 cameras. Details are being finalised with Sunstone Systems, the firm that will install the system.
It is believed that the new cameras will become operational early next year.
