Surveillance equipment could soon be set up in Braye Harbour.
Alderney Police say businesses in the area have reacted positively to the suggestion of putting up CCTV cameras in order to secure the harbour and help prevent crime.
As a result a feasibility study is being carried out while sponsorship is sought for cameras and related equipment.
PC Andy Du Four, Alderney's criminal damage champion, said: "Following the recent damage caused to a fishing boat in Alderney's harbour the question of having a CCTV system covering the area has been raised. Working with partner agencies the feasibility of such a system is being looked into."
Harbour master Steve Shaw thinks installing CCTV is a good idea. He believes it will help prevent crime while doubling up as a useful PR tool for the harbour if footage is screened online.
Mr Shaw said: "CCTV has proved beneficial for seeing what's going on with the commercial quay and could be used in a similar way across the harbour. A camera could help prevent crime and work as a good PR tool. I think a lot of people would like to look at what's going on down at the harbour. They could see what the weather's like and whether it's busy or not."
Mr Shaw went on to say little crime is committed in the harbour area to his knowledge.
He said: "There's not much crime. The odd bit of fuel is stolen and occasionally a dinghy will go missing. It's pretty minor stuff ? though it's not minor to those involved. CCTV may deter people thinking of committing these type of offences so that's a good thing."
Rupert Street, co-owner of chandlery business Mainbrayce, said: "We are in favour of CCTV in the harbour as it will make people think twice before doing silly things."
3 comments on this article
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Andy | Tue 5th May 2009 Basically we dont need it and I think we should have been consulted on it. Maybe our small government should have one in their offices?
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Winston Smith | Fri 1st May 2009 Mmm... how about working on catching and punishing the perpetrators of crime, rather than treating the entire population as criminals by subjecting them to prurient observation? CCTV has made Great Britain the most intensively observed population in the world and would have been decried as anti-democratic had it been deployed in the Soviet Bloc. Has crime notably reduced as a result?
While webcam 'overview' of the harbour and other scenic spots would be good for general interest and tourism promotion, this is not the same thing as CCTV deployed for anti-crime purposes.
There has been a worrying trend in Alderney over the last couple of decades where unwholesome developments in Great Britain have been emulated somewhat unthinkingly in the island.
As Franklin wrote:
'They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety'
After all, if we were all implanted with RFID tags our movements could be monitored and all crime prevented.
If that 'logic' doesn't convince you, why believe that CCTV will work?
Punish the guilty - don't monitor the innocent!
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david clark | Tue 21st April 2009 I look forward to receiving my copy of The Journal with all the "news". With regard to the CCTV item, I work in London and cameras are everywhere, having visited Alderney it was refreshing to not see any. Am sure there is no real need on an island of 2500 people, but to place CCTV / web cams in strategic places would have several benefits, firstly as a deterent to would-be vandals, it appears that criminal damage does occur, but also in a way of highlighting the island via the Internet. I have enjoyed seeing the Quay development progress via the web cam from my home in Sussex, also seeing what better weather you are having that day! Mr Shaw is right it would be a good PR tool giving a few live feeds i.e. Victoria St, the Airport, Harbour and maybe one at the end of the Breakwater looking back towards Bray. For those of us who wish to move to the island but are unable to at the moment due to work committments etc, web cams would be great. Thanks
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The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on Tuesday 31st August and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
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tickets £10 on sale at Shirley's Boutique and on the night at the door, Island Hall, 19:30 to 23:00
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The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on Tuesday 31st August and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 