Combatting crime with cameras
SECURITY cameras are being installed around Callosa de Segura, primarily to manage traffic but also as a deterrent against crime, announced the town hall.
Partido Popular (PP) mayor Manuel Martínez explained that the network will be made up of 16 cameras, of which six have been put up around the town centre and the rest will be added soon to keep an eye on the access points to the area.
There are two each at the junctions of Avenida Constitución with Calle Rambla Baja José Guilló Sáez; Calle Desamparados with Santa Rita opposite the food market; and Calle Alameda Pintora Manuela Amo with the Paseo de la Estación.
The cameras have been placed at a height of five metres to offer as wide a field of vision as possible, and the images are sent to the local police headquarters via a fibre optic connection to provide better quality images, explained councillor for traffic Vicente Mora.
The mayors of Callosa and other nearby municipalities recently called for additional Guardia Civil to cover the area in response to residents’ concerns at rising crime rates since several officers moved elsewhere, exacerbating existing short staffing problems.
Earlier this month, the Callosa local police force was reduced by over a third when 11 officers had to be let go to comply with a new regional law which prohibits town halls from hiring them on a temporary basis.
These temporary officers had not been authorised to carry firearms and did not carry out security duties, noted the town hall, and most were given administrative and traffic duties.
Sr Martínez assured that the municipality’s security needs have been covered by reorganising the duties and shifts of the remaining officers.
The local force has dealt with more than 400 incidents in the five weeks since January 7, of which 107 were related to security, including asking people for identification, action for possession of drugs and public disturbances, and delivering court summonses.
Another 70 included inspections of businesses and breaking bylaws (e.g. urinating or drinking alcohol in public), which resulted in 23 fines of up to €200.
Road safety accounted for 21 incidents, including a driver arrested for being four times over the alcohol limit, in addition to 150 traffic offences.
Finally, almost 30 were humanitarian services and helping people who were in a bad way, such as elderly and homeless people, as well as two cases of truancy and preventing vandalism in schools.