CCTV fails to detect rape (From News Shopper)

CCTV fails to detect rape

11:50am Tuesday 14th October 2003 in Bexley By Linda Piper

THE use of CCTV to detect and prevent serious crime is being questioned after a woman was allegedly raped in a town centre car park.

The claimed assault took place in the Albion Road car park next to Bexley Council’s civic offices, recognised by the police and council under the Secure Car Park scheme.

But it went undetected by the cameras and an investigation has highlighted serious shortcomings in the way the council’s CCTV operators dealt with the incident and with the police.

The alleged assault took place in the early hours of July 6 in a location hidden from cameras.

The woman, who is in her late 30s and not from the Bexley area, was recorded in the car park over a period of time but the CCTV operator in the council’s monitoring room did not see her. Tapes also apparently showed a glimpse of her with the alleged attacker.

After concern was voiced, the council launched an internal investigation. A subsequent report highlighted “deficiencies in the training, supervision and performance of duties by some of the staff involved”.

It also raised concern about “the quality of communication and transfer of information between the council CCTV operation and the police”.

The news that CCTV and its operators failed to deal adequately with the situation comes on top of a series of other incidents which have undermined confidence in the borough’s CCTV system and the way it is used and monitored.

These included attacks on property and people in Bexleyheath Broadway; CCTV cameras being trained into people’s homes instead of the street and their use to monitor a Welling bus lane.

It also comes as Bexley police announced they are talking to the council about taking over control and monitoring of the system.

Councillor Katie Perrior, whose brief is community safety, told News Shopper: “As a frequent user of these car parks I am horrified to discover where crimes have been reported with CCTV in operation, the perpetrators cannot be identified or have been missed altogether.” Leader of Bexley Council’s Tory group Councillor Ian Clement has demanded a full public investigation into the way CCTV is being used and managed in Bexley.

“This is further proof the CCTV system is failing Bexley residents,” he said.

A spokesman for the council said no additional cameras have been installed in the car park since the alleged incident.

A man has been arrested in connection with the rape and released on police bail.