Scottish CCTV's Under Threat

CCTV systems in Scotland are under threat due to budget cuts.

17:09 23 October 2017

Councils across Scotland are proposing to pull plug on CCTV cameras as part of the plan to make £8million savings and cut 126 jobs.

 

Midlothian and Inverclyde have already put forward plans to ditch cameras, which have helped solve serious crimes and trace missing people in the past.

 

Politicians have warned that such move can have a knock-on effect.

 

Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny said: “The reality is when councils start seeing others getting away with something, they start thinking the same way.”

 

Derek Milligan, leader of the Labour-led Midlothian Council, added: “CCTV cameras have been immensely beneficial in keeping down crime in the areas they are in, particularly our town centres. Removing them will have a knock-on effect.”

 

Other proposals include scrapping pest control departments and closing all but one of their libraries.

 

Milligan said: “Society is under threat here. We’ve reached a point where we’re thinking the unthinkable.

 

“Year-on-year cuts by the Scottish Government, council tax freezes and extra responsibilities have put us in this position.”

 

Milligan confirmed that he is set to meet with SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay next month to discuss the council’s funding. He said: “Local services are at threat. He has to listen.”