People living in one part of Widnes will be given CCTV doorbells in an effort to cut “cross border criminal activity”, Halton Council has announced.
The plans would see between 50 and 60 of the doorbells bought for residents of Hough Green to help deter crime and provide evidence for investigations.
Halton’s community safety manager, Mike Andrews, told members of the council’s Safer Policy and Performance Board on Tuesday night (February 9) the idea followed a survey of 3,200 homes in Hough Green.
He told the committee that residents had raised concerns about better lighting, removal of fly-tipped waste and improved CCTV.
He said: “One of the big things that came up was people’s use of CCTV - their own CCTV, Ring doorbells, that type of thing.
“A lot of people have them and they’re used nationally as a crime reduction tool and they’re used in crime investigations.”
The doorbells would be purchased using a grant from Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner and, according to a council report, set up in “hard to monitor” parts of the Arley Drive and Cherry Sutton estates.
The report described Hough Green as “one of the most deprived areas of Cheshire” and “subject to many cross border criminal activities”.
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It added that providing the doorbells would “ultimately have a reduction in criminal activity in the area which in turn will provide the residents the comfort and enjoyment for reinvestment into their properties and in enjoying the area in which they live.”
The doorbells would be provided to residents for free along with a supply of batteries which last around six months.
Mr Andrews also raised the possibility that the scheme could be extended to other parts of the borough if additional funding becomes available.
Committee chair Dave Thompson praised the scheme, saying: “Criminals wouldn’t expect that at all. It’s different in terms of combating crime and anti-social behaviour.”
