A new CCTV camera has been installed by Nottingham City Council in a city centre hotspot as part of ongoing work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour through Operation Reclaim.
The camera has been installed in St Peter’s Walk following concerns raised by residents, businesses and members of the public about drug use, drug dealing and intimidating behaviour in the area.
Working alongside Nottinghamshire Police and other partners, the Council is taking action to make the area safer and more welcoming. The new camera will help gather evidence, support enforcement activity and act as a visible deterrent to those involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour.
The installation forms part of Operation Reclaim – a partnership approach to addressing the issues that matter most to residents, including anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, weapon carrying, retail crime and illegal e-bikes.
High-visibility patrols by Nottingham City Council’s Community Protection Officers and Nottinghamshire Police continue to take place in the area, alongside support for vulnerable people who need access to specialist services. Longer-term improvements to the location are also being explored.
Councillor Matt Shannon, Executive Member for Community Protection, Neighbourhoods and Equalities, said: “People have told us they are concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour, and intimidation in this area, and we’re listening.
“This new CCTV camera will help us build a clearer picture of what is happening, provide reassurance to people using the city centre, and help us go after criminals in our city.
“This camera has been funded and installed by Nottingham City Council as part of our commitment to making Nottingham a safer, cleaner and more welcoming city, working with Nottinghamshire Police and other partners through Operation Reclaim.
“We will continue to review what is working, listen to feedback from local people and keep making improvements as Operation Reclaim develops.”
Nottinghamshire Police City Commander, Superintendent Chris Pearson said: “St Peter’s Church sits in the heart of Nottingham city centre and the area should be a place for people to enjoy especially on a summer’s day or evening.
“Unfortunately, the area surrounding the church has become a magnet for drug taking, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.
“Our officers cover this area on a daily basis and will arrest anyone suspected of dealing drugs in this area or causing problems for members of the public.
“Residents have raised their concerns about this area and hopefully these measures we have put in place with Nottingham City Council show we are taking their concerns seriously.
“We are hoping that the new CCTV camera will not only act as a deterrent but also help us land some significant arrests and charges for those wishing to come into the city and peddle drugs such as mamba, heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis or exploit vulnerable members of our community.
“However, there is still plenty of work to do in this area to ensure that residents and businesses are not impacted by this behaviour and longer term solutions are being investigated with our partners at the city council.
“We want everyone coming into our city to feel safe, and we will do everything in our power to remove those preventing this from happening.”
Mark Garner, Operations Manager for Framework, said: “We work in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police to address issues in the city, and we support the removal of drug dealers from the streets. Such action enables us to support some of the most at-risk people in our society and help them into treatment.
“We have a Rough Sleeper’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Team who provide assertive and flexible outreach and treatment to people who are homeless. Substance use treatment is also available for anyone in the city who may need it via our drug and alcohol service – Nottingham Recovery Network.”