New CCTV van with advanced cameras launched in Nottinghamshire can identify faces from 1500ft, boosting crime prevention.
The van has six cameras and a tall mast. Officers will work inside the van, seeing everything around in a full 360 view. Zooming in, they see faces clearly from 1600 feet and can even read license plates from that far!
Police will send the van where needed most. Residents have already pointed out problem areas like Sherwood, Bulwell, and Forest Recreation Ground. They launched the van at Forest Recreation Ground recently.
Inspector Ferguson said they look at reports daily and send the van where it helps most. He believes the van deters bad behavior. People see it and think twice before acting up.
Control room officers can even watch the van’s footage and give officers quick updates. Inspector Ferguson said reports dropped 32% from last year! Still, people complain about bad behavior often.
He said bad behavior includes many things such as aggressive begging and scary groups. Criminal damage and drugs are problems too, and the van will help everyone feel safer again.
The project cost £130,000, with a big grant from the Home Office paying for most of it. Police Commissioner Gary Godden got the £1.5 million grant and said it’s a tool to collect evidence, helping stop bad behavior in open spaces.
Godden thinks people will like the van because bad behavior ranges from minor to serious. Some kids just kick balls into walls, while others are aggressive in public. He hopes for more vans across the county.