CCTV installed in Adastral Square to deter 'drunk people'

Cameras have been installed in Canford Heath’s Adastral Square after the police and council had received complaints of antisoscial behaviour in the area. 

The Daily Echo has previously reported on youths as young as eight “kicking shops, shouting abuse and mooning people”. 

Charles and Muriel Watts, who tend to the planters in the square every Thursday and are looking for an extra pair of hands to help, said there have been “notably fewer incidents” of antisocial behaviour in the area following the installation of the cameras. 

Mrs Watts said: “We have had problems in the past but not recently. There is the odd occasion when people are walking on the plants, but that isn’t antisocial behaviour.” 

Cllr Sandra Moore, who helped campaign for CCTV to be installed in Adastral Square, said the camera are “more of a deterrent” and that it does help. 

Read more: Children as young as eight causing trouble in Morrisons and Iceland

She said: “It has moved the anti-social behaviour and the drunk people away from the square. 

“It isn’t illegal to drink in public places, but it is nasty when you can see it and people try to cause trouble. 

The drunk people have reportedly moved to a bus stop nearby (Image: Daily Echo)

“A lot of the drunk people saw the cameras and went down the alleyway instead. Some are now across the road at the bus stop, but it’s uncomfortable there for them and the wind blows.” 

A BCP Council spokeswoman said: “Our antisocial behaviour team and partner agencies had received an increased number of reports relating to antisocial behaviour at Adastral Square, Poole. 

“To address this, we installed a CCTV camera in this location. This provides the opportunity to identify individuals who engage in antisocial behaviour so that appropriate action can be taken. 

“Following the installation of the camera, in addition to joint patrols by Dorset Police and BCP Council at Adastral Square, reports of antisocial behaviour have reduced.” 

Statistics from Dorset Police show there have bee no reports of ASB in Adastral Square over the past month. This is down from three reports the month before and two reports from the same time period in the previous year.

Neighbourhood Inspector Nick Lee, of Poole police, said: “Antisocial behaviour (ASB) can have a significant impact on our communities and no one should be made to feel unsafe in their own neighbourhood.

“It is hoped that the introduction of CCTV in the area will help to act as a deterrent and reduce anti-social behaviour.

“We recognise that not all incidents of ASB are reported to the police and we would urge anyone with information to please contact Dorset Police so we can take appropriate action and build an intelligence picture about areas where repeated issues are occurring.”