For Official Use Only) PUBLIC PETITION NO

(For official use only) PUBLIC PETITION NO. PE1152

Should you wish to submit a public petition for consideration by the Public Petitions Committee please refer to the guidance leaflet How to submit a public petition and the Guidance Notes at the back of this form.

1. NAME OF PRINCIPAL PETITIONER Robert Kyle

2. TEXT OF PETITION Petition by Robert Kyle calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to allocate funding for the provision of permanent CCTV facilities in communities subjected to significant levels of crime.

3. ACTION TAKEN TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF CONCERN BEFORE SUBMITTING THE PETITION Requests for representation on this matter were made to Mr John Mundell, Chief Executive, Inverclyde Council., Mr Neil Graham, Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection., Inverclyde Council, Stuart McMillan, MSP. , and Councillor James Grieve SNP.

A petition signed by 100 local residents requesting the deployment of fixed CCTV in the East End of ward 2 was made available to each of these representatives.

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Ward 2 : Greenock Central, Cartsdyke & East Community

A recent survey of over one hundred residents from the East End community in Greenock have voiced concerns about the general level of crime. Residents are living with the fear that they may become the next victim of crime and with the summer months fast approaching there is great concern that this years’ crime figures will be no better than last years’.

Ninety-nine percent of the residents surveyed have requested that permanent CCTV facilities should be installed at key locations throughout their community. However, despite repeated requests made to Inverclyde Council, it would appear that no funding will be made available for this purpose.

Mr Niel Graham , Corporate Director Environment & Community Protection, Inverclyde Council , states that “ Inverclyde council has not budgeted anything for new CCTV units for this year” (2008) and that “The Inverclyde council CCTV system is already at full capacity and that the control room cannot be expected to monitor more cameras” He further states that “ ….the costs involved in buying and erecting a single CCTV unit is in the order of some £35,000. The cost of operation of a single camera is of the order of £2,000 per annum.”

Without the valuable footage provided by permanent CCTV cameras, the police face an uphill struggle in their attempts to apprehend and prosecute those concerned with breaking the law. In a recent trial held in Greenock, Sheriff John Herald , credited the councils’ CCTV network for catching the violent attack on two men by a gang of youths last year. He states that “If ever there was an argument for CCTV in this town, this video proves the argument.”( Greenock Telegraph , 2nd March 2007)

In reply to a letter sent by Stuart McMillan MSP , Superintendent Robert Shaw of the Inverclyde Sub Division, Greenock, states that “ Strathclyde Police do indeed embrace the idea of rolling out the CCTV programme to areas of Inverclyde where a genuine public demand has been identified and is justified by crime figures”

Crime figures for Beat 66 : East End of Greenock : April 2006 – March 2007 : Reported Crime :

Attempted Murder : 2 Serious Assault : 10 Possession of an offensive weapon : 9 Having in a public place an article with a blade or point: 8 Robbery and Assault with intent to rob : 8 Threats and extortion : 1 Cruelty to and unnatural treatment of children : 4 Abduction : 2 Rape : 2 Indecent Assault :1 Theft by housebreaking - domestic property dwell : 13 Theft by housebreaking – other property : 6 Housebreaking with intent to steal – dom prop dwell : 4 Housebreaking with intent to steal – other property : 3 Attempted housebreaking w.i. enter & steal – dom prop dwell : 4 Attempted housebreaking w.i. enter & steal – other property : 3 Theft from a motor vehicle : 4 Vagrancy and known thief : 1 In building with intent to steal : 1 Theft – general : 18 Theft of motor vehicle : 7 Theft by shoplifting : 2

2 Theft from a motor vehicle not elsewhere classified : 2 Attempted theft of a motor vehicle : 2 Fraud : 1 Vandalism , reckless damage and malicious mischief : 84 Mobbing and rioting : 1 Public mischief : 1 Resisting arrest : 7 Obstructing constable in pursuance of lawful duty : 5 General attempts to defeat the ends of justice : 2 Bail offences other than absconding or re-offending : 4 Supply , possession w.i. to supply etc of drugs : 18 Possession of drugs : 33 Drugs, other offences : 2 Petty Assault : 45 Breach of the peace : 72 Racially aggrevated conduct : 1 Consumption of alcohol in designated areas : 13 Driving carelessly : 4 Accident offences : 5 Driving without a licence : 11 No 3rd party insurance : 21

If these crime figures do not justify the deployment of fixed CCTV facilities then an explanation to the East End residents should be forthcoming from Inverclyde Council. Police statistics indicate a general detection rate of about 60%. However vandalism by its very nature occurs often when no one is present and is very difficult to detect, even with neighbourhood watch schemes operating. Generally only one in ten acts of vandalism are detected.

In a report prepared for the Inverclyde Community Safety Partnership, April 2007, Superintendent David Stewart states that “Vandalism accounts for over 20% of all crimes recorded in Inverclyde”. He also states that “Vandalism represents a real challenge in terms of volume and the impact upon the fear of crime that such mindless acts can cause”

In support of CCTV deployment for crimes of Vandalism, Drugs, Petty Assault, and Breach of the Peace

The Scottish Government

Crime and Criminal Justice Research findings No: 8

“Does Closed Circuit Television prevent crime ?” An evaluation of the use of CCTV surveillance in Airdrie town centre.

Crimes and offences cleared-up

3 A crime or offence is regarded as 'cleared-up' if one or more offenders is apprehended, cited, warned or traced for it. In the 2 years following CCTV the police cleared-up 16% more crimes and offences in the CCTV area compared to the 2 years prior to installation. Improvements in clear-ups were most evident in relation to crimes involving vandalism and drugs and to offences such as petty assault, breach of the peace and drunkenness.

Crime seriously impacts the quality of life in our communities. It causes fear, uncertainty, ill health and financial loss to many and the deployment of permanent CCTV is viewed as a possible solution. Issues surrounding funding should be treated with the utmost attention and MP’s, MSP’s and Councillors should be ensuring that adequate funding is made available to those areas of our communities that are in need. The purpose of this petition is to highlight the need for the provision of permanent CCTV protection within our communities

1.This petition appeals to the Scottish Government to consider new legislation that ensures that Local Authorities “must” provide permanent CCTV facilities in communities where crime figures show regular and persistently high levels . 2.It calls for the Scottish Government to consider giving Community Councils decision making powers on issues affecting Community Safety and Protection. 3.It calls for the Scottish Government to legislate for the provision of financial funding to be made available for the installation and maintenance of permanent CCTV facilities in communities subjected to persistently high levels of crime.

References : www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1998/12/978abe73-d412-4ea3-86a7- e5acf24c8d7a www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6271063.stm 2nd March, 2007 : Greenock Telegraph, 26th September 2007: Greenock Telegraph: www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/15597 5th October, 2007 : Greenock Telegraph: www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/15925 26th October, 2007 : Greenock Telegraph: www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/16466 6th November, 2007 : Greenock Telegraph: www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/16728 25th March 2008: Greenock Telegraph: www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/21616 Newburn. T(2003) Handbook of Policing, p286-p311, Willan Publishing. 4th Feb07., Strathclyde EOM Crimes and Offences. 6th March 07 ; Safe, Sustainable Communities Comm.

4 5. DO YOU WISH YOUR PETITION TO BE HOSTED ON THE PARLIAMENT’S WEBSITE AS AN E-PETITION?

YES Yes NO

If “Yes” please enter a closing date for gathering signatures on your petition (we usually recommend a period of around six weeks). Please also provide at least one comment to set the scene for an on-line discussion on the petition, not exceeding ten lines of text. CLOSING DATE 9 May 2008

COMMENTS TO STIMULATE ON-LINE DISCUSSION The police cannot be expected to be present every time a crime is committed.

The eyes of the neighbourhood watchers cannot watch 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.

Mobile cameras can only focus on one area at a time, leaving other areas without cover.

Permanent CCTV can focus on crime 24hrs a day, 7 days a week just at the flick of a switch & CCTV evidence is undisputable.