FOUR alleged sex attackers, 20 suspected kerb crawlers and three wanted people were among those captured on CCTV in Bournemouth last month.

A total of 145 arrests were viewed on cameras across the town in January including six drink-drivers, 17 assault suspects and two people wanted for robbery.

The town’s CCTV system came under criticism last week after police investigating a sexual assault released a poor quality image appealing for the public’s help.

But Cllr David Smith says the figures published for last month prove the town’s CCTV system is “fantastic”.

They reveal that eagle-eyed camera operators directed police to 48 incidents which led to an arrest.

And CCTV evidence was used in 129 cases of people being charged or dealt with by the police.

The total number of incidents dealt with by Bournemouth police station-based CCTV operators during January was 875, compared with 894 in the same month the previous year. Some 325 incidents were self generated by CCTV staff, and the remainder came from the police, Shopwatch and Pubwatch.

Seventy-seven discs were seized by police for evidence during court proceedings.

Portable cameras were used across the borough to film 85 incidents, with 17 arrests for public order, assault, criminal damage, kerb-crawling and drug possession.

Cllr David Smith said: “The CCTV system in Bournemouth is fantastic – it is one of the best in the country.

“There is overwhelming support for CCTV from the members of the public I speak to and I think it assists the police in an awful amount having use of the CCTV system. I know it has been a huge help to officers investigating a number of murders in recent years.”

Speaking about the criticism of the recently published CCTV image, Cllr Smith added: “A picture like that gives the impression our CCTV system is not good – in fact it is fantastic.

“I have been in the CCTV suite and the operators have been able to zoom in on someone reading the paper and you can practically read the words.

“The figures here speak for themselves and prove just how good the CCTV system is.”

JANUARY CCTV ARRESTS

  • 28 public order
  • 20 kerb crawling
  • 17 assault
  • 13 drunk and disorderly
  • 11 theft
  • 6 drink/drive offences
  • 5 criminal damage
  • 4 assault police
  • 4 breach of section 27 dispersal order
  • 4 begging
  • 4 sexual assault (2 attempted rape)
  • 3 wanted persons
  • 3 offensive weapon
  • 2 robbery
  • 2 burglary
  • 2 breach of bail
  • 1 possession of controlled drug.