'Egg cams' monitor gangs and guns

2:30pm Wednesday 28th March 2007

Twenty-three hi-tech cameras have been installed in Moss Side and parts of Old Trafford.

The fully digitised internet protocol cameras are similar in size to an Easter egg and have a motion detection facility that allows operators to view footage at the click of a button.

"Gun and gang violence knows no boundaries and doesn’t respect communities."

Supt John Graves

All but one of the cameras are now fully operational and will be monitored on a daily basis by Manchester City Council's CCTV control room. Trafford will benefit from the use of five of the new egg cams.

The announcement has been heralded as a sign of the two councils' determination to work in partnership to tackle gang and gun crime, with their control rooms sharing surveillance images.

They have been developing the project, along with Greater Manchester Police, since funding was secured in September 2006.

The next phase of the initiative will see the new system integrated into Trafford's CCTV control room says Supt John Graves, from Trafford's Partnership and Justice team.

He explained: "Gun and gang violence knows no boundaries and doesn't respect communities - this is a great example of how two neighbouring boroughs can join forces to combat a shared problem.

"These new cameras should provide additional reassurance to people living in the Old Trafford area and provide us with a real opportunity of disrupting the activities of those committing violent crime.

"We are using the latest CCTV technology and the cameras can be moved around different locations to plug any gaps that exist in the static network."

Mike Cooney, Trafford Council's Corporate Director for Community Services, added: "The new cameras will provide reassurance to the community.

"It's hoped that they will act as a deterrent to anybody tempted to get involved in crime and disorder or antisocial behaviour.

"We continually strive to make Trafford an even safer place to live and work and are working closely with our partners on projects to achieve this objective."

Last week Trafford Council announced it is to invest an extra £500,000 into improving community safety and tackling crime. About a dozen additional CCTV cameras are to be installed in Old Trafford as part of this initiative.

The announcement followed a multi-agency two-week Beat Sweep' operation in the Clifford ward, in response to concerns about an increase in gun and gang activity.

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