CCTV Unit Focuses On Award

The team who keep a watchful eye on the residents, visitors and businesses of Rhondda Cynon Taf via a state-of-the-art 150-camera CCTV system have captured a prestigious national award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Authorities across the UK attended the national CCTV User Group earlier this year where Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s CCTV Unit, which operates from Sardis House in Pontypridd and via mobile CCTV units, was awarded National CCTV Operator Team of the Year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team of were nominated by their manager Wayne Bluck for their consistent excellent work and also the professional response delivered during a serious of serious incidents, including a murder, which led to offenders being apprehended by police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Due to the professional and efficient way in which they keep an eye on roads, town centres, car parks and even housing estates, the team has been able to alert police, shop staff and security staff to potential incidents or suspicious individuals before they have gotten out of hand. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This should serve as a reassurance to residents and visitors and also as a deterrent for would-be trouble makers that someone has a friendly watching eye on them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as responding to and alerting partners such as the Police to incidents that could escalate, the CCTV operators also collect and present invaluable evidence which can be used in court, if an offence has been caught on camera. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The CCTV Unit also manages and coordinates the shared Radionet system in place in some RCT town centres, which allow police, CCTV operators, security staff, door staff and the managers in licensed premises to share information on suspicious incidents or individuals in real-time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Prosperity, Wellbeing and Communities, said: “The primary focus of the CCTV unit is to reassure the public and deter those considering misbehaving or offending in our open places. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Residents, visitors and businesses alike can be assured they have a specialist, highly-trained – and now award-winning- team working around the clock to watch over them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“CCTV has been imperative in the preventing of a number of incidents and has also enabled police and response staff to be alerted to people or incidents in a very timely manner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Where, unfortunately, an incident does happen, CCTV play a critical role in detection and evidence gathering, using their range of cameras and vehicles to track a suspect or keep an eye out on an incident. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This can include a crime such as shoplifting or disorderly behaviour, but is just as likely to be helping find a missing person, drawing attention to someone who looks like they are in need of medical attention or keeping an eye on those waiting to leave town safely after a night out.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​