Big brother goes mobile!

THERE will soon be no hiding place for those who illegally deposit waste around the borough, write graffiti, involve themselves in anti-social behaviour or even fail to clean up their pet’s mess.

For it’s been revealed that Ballymena Borough Council has purchased two mobile CCTV cameras at a cost of £7,000.

It is understood funding was secured by Council’s Environmental Services Department, through Ballymena Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The cameras will be used to complement the existing civic CCTV system and be used primarily to target hotspots of illegal waste disposal etc. They would help identify offenders and/or vehicles used and facilitate subsequent issuing of a fixed penalty, where appropriate.

Councillors were told at last week’s meeting that site visits would be carried out this month to ensure the best positioning of the cameras and that the system would go live in August.

Welcoming the initiative, Cllr Davy Tweed said: “These cameras can be used and should be used and it is important that the public know that these will be about the area now”.

Also hailing the scheme, Cllr Audrey Wales said she welcomed the two cameras being utilised and said the part played by CCTV and radio link in the town in cracking down on crime should not be underestimated.