EXTRA CCTV cameras have been installed at a city centre car park as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
St Mary’s car park has long suffered from anti-social behaviour which has seen nearby residents complain about months of broken sleep because of illegal racing, engine revving, and amplified music.
Police officers have ramped up patrols at the site in Balkerne Hill, Colchester, and Colchester Council has already taken measures to stamp out bad behaviour in the car park.
The Gazette understands extra CCTV cameras were deployed earlier this month and the local authority is seeking to introduce more.
Castle ward councillor Steph Nissen said: “Some additional cameras were installed at the beginning of October and these are remaining for the foreseeable future. We’ve also applied for external funding to provide additional cameras.”
Ms Nissen told the Gazette “at least a dozen fines” have been issued by enforcement officers this month “which seems to have resulted in a significant decrease in anti-social behaviour in the car park”.
Increased patrols and cameras will be accompanied by the return of security barriers at the car park’s entrance.
The decision to remove barriers in 2016 has previously been blamed for the increase in anti-social behaviour.
But concerns have been raised that the car park may now be being used to facilitate county lines drug dealing.
“I’m going to carry on working with Colchester Council and Essex County Council to try and get the drug dealing dealt with,” Ms Nissen added. “It’s not simply a case of putting a barrier down.”
Last month, city council leader David King announced the car park’s entrance would blocked by temporary fencing from 10pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
It is understood the new barriers, which will be manually opened and closed at weekends, will replace the current temporary fencing before the end of November.
Colchester Council says it remains “committed to working with the St Mary’s Residents’ Association”.
A spokesman added the decision was made in response to concerns from residents about antisocial behaviour in the car park, adding it will “help to improve security and deter crime”.
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