VOLUNTEERS in Nantwich could be recruited to help monitor the town’s CCTV cameras to put more police back on the beat.
The town’s Labour group chairman Peter Cameron said: “The use of volunteers would help to assist when police personnel go out on patrol.
“Volunteers could provide extra manpower for council and police operated CCTV cameras, which operate in the town.”
He said the idea has been recently tested in Essex where the local police force runs an accredited scheme for CCTV volunteers.
People such as retired police officers, firefighters and community activists have been targeted as potential recruits.
Under the proposal volunteers would receive similar training to that of the Community Speed Watch scheme, which sees residents posing as traffic officers with speed guns.
Mr Cameron said a community crimewatch scheme’ could supply enough volunteers to allow the borough council to provide round-the-clock CCTV seven days a week, protecting shoppers and revellers from thieves and drunken yobs.
In practice, local volunteers would man the cameras during the quieter times of the day.
Mr Cameron added: “A community crimewatch scheme could provide extra manpower and release more resources to the front-line.
“People like retired police officers and fire-fighters could bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.
“We need CCTV cameras to be monitored all the time to give shoppers and partygoers protection they need, especially on events like the Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival.
“Volunteers would receive training and, just like any job or volunteering role nowadays, potential recruits would need to pass a strict vetting procedure.
“I would like to see the idea piloted to establishe whether or not it would be viable in the long term.”
