Colchester Library to Get £135k Security Upgrade Amid Rising Issues

Colchester Library needs more security, and taxpayers will spend over £130,000 to address this as part of a larger £450,000 renovation that upgrades security due to past problems. During 2023 and early 2024, issues arose at the library. The library had 98 incidents last year, and 28 incidents so far this year.

A staff member even got hurt, and security costs added up to £12,726 this summer.

To enhance security, they will install CCTV and new doors at a total cost of over £130,000, with doors and a lobby costing £82,500 and the CCTV system costing £51,629. These changes should reduce issues.

Young people have caused problems at the library, including police investigating an assault on a librarian, vandalism, verbally abusing workers, and throwing books. The library wants to avoid hiring guards, as guards would cost about £50,000 each year.

The council said the upgrades will help, and the new entrance will look better too. The design should stop bad behavior. The library project costs £454,433 overall, and they are installing cameras and doors now.

Witham Library also has issues, and they might use body cameras for staff because of rising problems there. Shopkeepers say teens hurt business.

One council member is worried, having heard about issues at many Essex libraries. He wants to protect library employees, and they will consider using body cameras, which protects staff members from bad behavior.