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Focus on crime prevention as invite to switch on to CCTV is issued by Henry McLeish
29/05/1998
One of Scotland's most potent crime-fighting weapons was today given a £1.5 million boost by Henry McLeish.
The Home Affairs Minister said that the money was being made available for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) schemes throughout the country, taking to £7 million the amount of central government support for CCTV in the past four years under the highly successful Challenge Fund competition.
And with 85 projects already awarded grants - from small village systems to massive district-wide schemes - the cash injection for 1999-2000 should take to well over 100 the number of areas covered by Scottish Office supported crime-busting cameras.
Speaking during a visit to Fife Constabulary's headquarters in Glenrothes, Mr McLeish said:
"One of the Government's most significant contributions to the safety of people and property in our streets is our continuing investment in CCTV and I am delighted to confirm today that the Challenge Funding competition will be continued in 1999-2000.
"A further £1.5 million will be available to support communities the length and breadth of Scotland who wish to establish new CCTV systems or to expand on or upgrade existing systems. Invitations to apply for the competition have been sent to all police forces and local authorities.
"CCTV needs to be carefully monitored to avoid the 'big brother is watching' syndrome - but my experience and Scottish Office research indicates that people, businesses, local councils and not least the police welcome the security that cameras provide."
BACKGROUD
1. Since the launch of the CCTV Challenge Competition in 1995, 85 projects have been awarded grants amounting to almost £5.5 million. A further £1.5 million has been made available for the 1999-2000 round. The letter inviting bids for this round was sent to chief constables and chief executives on 21 May
2. The scheme was designed to encourage more CCTV schemes throughout Scotland. The main features of the competition are:
* Must be joint bids from local partnerships who can demonstrate that they are broadly representative of the community;
* eligible schemes must cover a public area or one substantially used by the public;
* importantly, the bid must be backed by the police, as tackling a crime problem which CCTV can help to reduce;
* each bid must attract matching funding and demonstrate that running costs can be met after the scheme is installed;
* the scheme is not restricted to city or town centres. CCTV may have a part to play in crime prevention elsewhere;
* to ensure a fair spread of available funding it is unlikely that any contribution from The Scottish Office will exceed £250,000;
* established schemes are able to apply for upgrading or extension;
* schemes must follow privacy guidelines, based on police guidelines which have proved effective for existing schemes.
News Release: 1103/98
May 29, 1998