Only CCTV left to police our streets

12:38pm Thursday 25th September 2008

I HAVE had occasion to telephone the police to report an incident involving my 11-year-old son and a bicycle - while walking along the pavement my son had his feet taken out from under him by a youth riding aggressively and narrowly swerving to miss an unstable elderly gentleman who appeared to be his initial target.

While treating my call very seriously and with great concern, it is regrettable that the police were not able to assist in any way.

If the CCTV camera had been directed at the specific area of pavement on which my son was standing, there may have been some evidence of the incident, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The siting of CCTV cameras has removed the police presence from our streets in person. Had a police person been patrolling the centre of town, there would have been a point of contact for my son who was greatly shaken, and also the possibility of the pavement cyclist being identified and stopped.

Where have the police gone? They are great at hiding behind bushes with speed cameras but in terms of prevention of crime on the streets they are seldom seen, leaving the CCTV cameras to “keep an eye” on goings on, if they are looking in the right direction.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Latest news, sport and entertainment