Keeping an eye out for us all!

A BIG chunk of the funding Exeter has secured for Safer Streets is being spent on state of the art closed circuit television cameras, which help keep the city centre safe for all.

So we thought it would be interesting to let you know a bit more about the equipment being used and why it is so effective. This round of funding from the Home Office will result in Exeter City Council installing an additional 39 high resolution cameras.

The locations for the new cameras around the city centre means there will be a significant increase in overall coverage of areas where women have indicated feeling vulnerable in the past.

Two types of camera are being installed, both offering excellent functionality and performance.

Best evidence

They have been chosen for their analytical capability when “achieving best evidence” for police and court requirements which means that should something happen which results in someone being charged and taken to court, the camera evidence is clear enough to help gain a conviction.

The Hanwha Techwin PNM-7322-VQP, which are locally known as BOB, offers 2mp @ 60 frames per second ensuring that when an offence has been committed operators are quickly and easily able to capture an identifiable image of the offender. This is then passed on to the police.

The cameras also allow operators to help in the search for people that are vulnerable or missing far quicker than ever before.

Additionally a new 360 Vision Invictus camera has been added. This is a camera which allows controllers to rotate fully, offering 100% coverage of large areas of the city centre. This camera was chosen for its ability to light an area from above, and can offer instant reassurance to people when vulnerable or letting those up to no-good know that they are being monitored - even in poorly lit areas. These new, and many other replacement, installations mean Exeter’s CCTV camera portfolio will increase to over 200 individual camera’s by summer 2023.

So let’s spread the word that Exeter’s night time economy is not only thriving but can be enjoyed by everyone safely, without fear.