BYAILEEN MURPHY

Seven Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) are now in operation in Enniskillen town centre, and it is hoped the cameras will help reduce the level of crime in the area, while at the same time make the town feel safer for locals and tourists alike.

The Enniskillen initiative is part of a £2m investment by the Northern Ireland Office in CCTV cameras and the third of 14 different schemes covering 19 locations in Northern Ireland. While the initial funding, of almost £200,000, is provided by the NIO, the running costs of the cameras is shared between Fermanagh District Council and local town centre businesses.

The images from all seven cameras will be monitored from a local suite, and the primary aims of the scheme are to reduce crime and incidents of anti social behaviour in the town centre. Past statistics in other areas have estimated that having CCTV in an urban centre reduce crime, over a number of years, by up to 30%.

Speaking on the operation of the Scheme, Bert Johnston, the Chairman of Fermanagh District Policing Partnership (DPP) and Community Safety Partnership (CSP) said the local scheme was part of the DPP's and CSP's commitment to making Fermanagh safer.

"60% of Fermanagh's crime occurs in Enniskillen', he stated, " and we are committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. I am delighted that this scheme has become operational," Councillor Johnston said.

Pat Blake, CCTV Working Group member and Secretary of the Fermanagh Licensed Vintners Association, commented that, while town centre CCTV would assist in the prevention of crime, it would not eradicate it.

He went on: "The seven cameras will, however be a valuable crime prevention tool for the town centre and will help ensure that offenders are brought to justice. It also will provide extra reassurance to members of the public and to the business community in Enniskillen that they can go about their daily lives with confidence."

Malcolm Sloan, who is also a member of the Working Group, referred to the partnership approach between the NIO Community Safety Unit, Fermanagh District Council and local businesses, and he paid tribute to all those businesses who had become involved in ensuring that the scheme had gone 'live.'

"Enniskillen", he commented, " is a vibrant shopping and tourist town, and it is important that the business community takes the lead in making the area a safe and secure place to visit and shop. We would encourage all town businesses to become involved in supporting the scheme."

The Enniskillen Scheme will be administered by Fermanagh District Council and it will evaluated for the next three years.