Canvey: Police need your cash

The island's police are trying to raise £30,000 to pay for the cameras which will be placed in key locations around the town.

They want to crack down on vandalism and graffiti and hope the cameras will help catch the culprits as well as act as a deterrent.

Two years ago the police and Castle Point Council came up with the idea for the cameras and asked businesses for help to pay for it.

Through sponsorship and pledges of cash they managed to collect £20,000, but need another £10,000 to put the scheme into action.

PC Alex Gartshore, of Canvey police, said: "We are looking to put three cameras on mounted poles around the town centre. They will be linked by radio to a 24-hour control centre which will be somewhere in the town."

Police are hoping to put one by the Haystack pub in Furtherwick Road and another by the library in the High Street. Another will be placed in a secret location.

Police want to get the scheme up and running as soon as possible to help town centre traders who are suffering at the hands of vandals.

Crime prevention officer PC Gordon Sinclair said: "It's very frustrating when you can't get to grips with a situation through lack of finance or lack of resources.

"It's very annoying not to be able to help protect all the hard working members of the public who put a lot of effort into their businesses."

Audrey and Jane Bridge, a mother and daughter who run the Pick en Choose cafe in Canvey High Street, have suffered at the hands of vandals.

Jane said: "We put out three window boxes and they come round and destroy them every week.

"It's cost us around £100 to replace them so we don't bother anymore. It's a shame because we are all trying to make the area look nice."

If you would like to contribute to the CCTV camera fund contact Canvey police on 01702 511212.

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