A FRUSTRATED businessman said he offered to cover a public area with a CCTV camera for free, and link it to the council system, but never got a reply.

Ben Baker from the CCTV firm Klevaco made the offer after speaking to the residents’ forum about incidents of anti-social behaviour on Pokesdown Green.

He said: “We were quite happy to do it and I emailed Bournemouth council but I never even got a reply.

“I know there are concerns about data protection. But everyone has got cameras on shops and if that was the problem everyone would be in breach.”

Mr Baker’s firm is next to Pokesdown railway station and faces the green. He said he was happy to turn around one of his three cameras and let the council have access to the footage. He raised the ignored offer at a meeting of Pokesdown Community Forum, and was then called by the council’s CCTV department the following day.

Tony Gleason, CCTV manager, said: “Whilst we are grateful for the offer, this has a number of implications including Data Protection Act principles, raises security issues of the data collected, and the equipment would not be compatible.

“This has all been fully explained to the business owner.

“We are aware of residents’ concerns and there are plans for a permanent CCTV camera to be installed and consultation will take place when this is progressed.

“In the meantime, residents and businesses are advised to raise concerns with the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, who will be able to assess the suitability of a mobile-CCTV camera being used.”