Crime recorded by cctv in Alsager is “on a downward trend”, according to a new report.
Figures from Cheshire East Council’s cctv control room showed a fall in incidents during the last year, it was revealed at a full town council meeting last Tuesday.
Based at Macclesfield Town Hall, the control room is maintained by the borough council’s small team of specialist technicians.
There are four cameras located around Alsager that are monitored, which are in the Civic’s car park, on the green in front of the Civic, in Milton Park and at Northolme Gardens.
It was reported that only 18 counts of anti-social behaviour in Alsager were detected on the cameras in the final three quarters of the financial year, compared to 37 in quarter one, between last April and June 2021.
Following those first four months, cctv controllers identified that Alsager had a “clear issue” with anti-social behaviour, but they have now described it as a “safe place”.
Coun Derek Hough explained at last Tuesday’s meeting that the “reduced level” of crime had only decreased slightly because Alsager “started off with a very low state” of incidents.
The report also identified that there was only one drug or alcohol-related incident picked up on the cameras in the last quarter, between January and March, with six reported in the first quarter.
There were six violent incidents recorded and two traffic incidents, the report said.
All cameras monitored from the control room have been upgraded in the last two years.
Some had been operational for more than a decade, which meant parts could no longer be sourced, while multiple brands of camera caused further issues, said the report.
Chair of the council Coun Phil Williams added: “The downward trend of incidents is good to hear.”
The town council is working with Cheshire East Council to place additional cameras around Alsager.
