WHAT do you see when out and about in Malton, Norton and Pickering town centres? Perhaps the amount of traffic or the weather, but what do you really see? The reality is that most of us actually do not know what or who we are seeing unless our attention is drawn to a specific incident or event in front of us.

Did you notice the local drug dealer who has just walked past you with another male who is a known drug user and is currently stealing from town centre shops and committing burglaries to fund his habit? He is also banned from entering town centre shops.

As you crossed the road a car drove past you that is known to be used by travelling criminals from the Cleveland area. Another vehicle comes out of the supermarket car park, the driver is disqualified from driving and has no insurance. A couple walk past you during a night out and are having a heated discussion – 10 minutes later officers are dealing with a domestic assault elsewhere in the town centre involving the same two people. The examples go on and on.

Of course, it is not possible to “see” in this way because you are not in possession of that information. So who or what is working in the background with police to prevent incidents and secure credible evidence when incidents do occur? Well CCTV is right up there.

Ryedale currently enjoys a low crime rate, but it comes with a health warning in that this does not happen by accident. Ryedale police and other key agencies target persistent offenders in order to disrupt, deter and ultimately prevent crime and disorder occurring in the first place.

Ryedale CCTV is a community asset that has been provided for and maintained by the community. It is not owned, financed or maintained by North Yorkshire Police, that is the role of registered charity Ryedale Cameras in Action. When incidents occur and evidence is captured on CCTV then it is invariably Ryedale police who pick up the end product.

The range and versatility of the Ryedale CCTV system in protecting our community was demonstrated to me two years ago when dealing with a report that a local man was seeking to commit suicide. Initial information was that he had left Malton and Norton by public transport. Officers immediately went to the CCTV system and trawled through video footage and found the man leaving the train station and walking back into the town centre. From this we were able to identify he was still in town, that he was on foot and where he might be heading given his current mental state. After a few hours of searching an officer found the man hidden in undergrowth off a remote farm track. He had taken an overdose of controlled drugs and alcohol. After a few weeks in hospital he made a full recovery and would not be alive today were it not for CCTV in Malton and Norton.

Other examples of Ryedale CCTV usage includes the monitoring of flood levels in Malton, Norton and Pickering two years ago, traffic collisions and congestion, missing and/or vulnerable persons, anti-social use of vehicles, truanting, supporting our Street Angels, town centre events and even occasional escaped livestock from the cattle market, to name but a few.

I am of the view that Ryedale Cameras in Action has not been as pro-active as it should have been in marketing the success of Ryedale CCTV and its positive impact on the community.

Some people inform me that they are not sure if CCTV actually works, but I have evidence to prove it does. Nationally, things have moved on in terms of CCTV and the time is right to review the management and administration of our current system.

CCTV is financed by Ryedale District Council with contributions from Malton, Norton and, until recently, Pickering town councils. Pickering Town Council has decided that it does not want CCTV in its town whereas Malton and Norton town councils value it and are keen to see it move forward.

An offer is on the table to procure the 24/7 monitoring of all Ryedale cameras by the CCTV control centre at Scarborough Borough Council, which also monitors Whitby and Filey town centre CCTV. It will also provide a dedicated CCTV operator solely for Ryedale on Friday and Saturday nights. The cost of this service? £12,000 per annum.

Ryedale Cameras in Action cannot spend for the future with its existing funds unless there is wider commitment to investing in Ryedale CCTV.

So let us take a step back and have a good look at the emerging landscape. There are grand plans in place for the future of our market towns here in Ryedale, but do not forget to properly assess those services we need to take with us in moving forward so that we can all continue to protect and reassure our communities. Yes, Ryedale CCTV has not shouted loud enough over the years as it quietly goes about its business, however we now have an opportunity to make a positive step change in developing an enhanced and cost effective service.

My position is simple. I serve my community and will continue to address those quality-of-life issues in Ryedale that cause concern to people. I also respect the collective views of the community and if the majority view is that people do not want CCTV in our town centres then it is not for me to judge.

I am not yet persuaded, however that people have had their say on the future presence of CCTV in our towns and made their views known.