Mum says she finally feels safe to take child to play at park after CCTV camera installed
A mum has said she finally feels it is safe to take her child to play at a park near her home after a CCTV camera was installed in the area.
Tisgist Mesgen, 34, from Radford in Nottingham, has lived in the area for 10 years but had never before taken her daughter to the Bridlington Street Playground.
But she was happy to push her child on the swings as the camera was installed in a bid to detect robberies and thefts in the area, as well as reassure park users.
Ms Mesgen said: "It's good, I'm happy. Usually, you see people drinking alcohol here and they put stuff everywhere, you see underage people smoke and children are playing games for money, and they run away when police cars come.
"But with that camera here now, they will not come and we can come to the park."
Arvind Sethe, 43, who lives in Radford, said: "Usually it's a lot worse here in the evening than it is in the morning - at around 5pm, there's usually a huge crowd and they make the place very messy, then after that you can't usually use the park.
"The camera is an improvement."
However, another resident has said there needs to be more of a police presence instead of just a CCTV camera.
Jacek Okon, 47, who lives on Gregory Boulevard, said: "It does not work - there needs to be more patrols or police cars here.
"I usually like to sit in the park, and people are still here - but maybe less people are here at the moment because it's colder.
"It does help, the CCTV, but just a little bit - I saw some schoolgirls who were smashing things on the ground still and I gave them a warning that they needed to leave."
The camera has been funded through the City's Safer Streets project and will be live-monitored at Nottingham City Council's existing CCTV control room in Radford.
Welcoming the new camera, police and crime commissioner Caroline Henry said: "Fear of crime can stop us doing the things we love and enjoy and that's not fair or acceptable.
"Making our public spaces safer and preventing crime are top priorities for me.
"We have listened carefully to the concerns of local people and we hope this new CCTV camera will boost their confidence as they enjoy this family park."
Councillor Neghat Khan, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, safety and inclusion at the city council, said: "People should always feel safe when using our beautiful parks and fantastic green spaces in Nottingham.
"Hopefully this CCTV camera will deter trouble and antisocial behaviour and help people feel safe and secure whilst using the park."