Traders call for CCTV after armed robbery at post office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4829195 ... st_office/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TRADERS in a parade of shops in Rayleigh have called for CCTV coverage after a post office was robbed at gunpoint.

There were two cameras covering the Grange parade of shops, in London Road, but they were taken away four years ago by Rochford District Council as part of a change in policy, which saw CCTV cameras removed across the borough.

Businesses want the cameras back after the Grange Post Office was held up by a robber brandishing a handgun on Tuesday.

Martin Berrett, of M&J Butchers, said: “We had two cameras here and Rochford District Council decided to take them away and put a lamp post here instead.

“It’s stupid and we never heard anything about it until the fellow turned up and did it.

“The cameras would have caught everything. And when someone got stabbed at Rayleigh station a few years ago, the police came in and asked if we’d got any exterior cameras.”

Philip Hodgkinson, from Grange Pharmacy, already has cameras inside his shop, but agreed CCTV outside would help to improve security.

A thief walked in and stole the shop’s charity box for the RNIB on November 20, and the cameras would have caught him leaving.

Mr Hodgkinson added: “I had a fence kicked down about seven times last year, so CCTV would have helped with that. Every little thing helps with things like that.”

The CCTV across the town is now been taken on by Rayleigh Town Council, in an effort to improve security and reassure the public.

Dave Sperring, chairman of the town council, said it would consider installing cameras at the Grange parade.

He added: “I think the town council has always been very proactive and supportive of CCTV.

“We think it’s proved its worth in the town. If we talked to the police and the residents and they thought it was worthwhile, we would do whatever we could to try and implement it.”

Lesley Butcher, Rochford counciller responsible for community safety, said: “The council reviewed its policy on the provision of CCTV cameras in 2006.

“Following discussions with Essex Police at that time, we took the decision to remove a number of obsolete, analogue type cameras, including those in London Road, Rayleigh.

“The police’s preference was to use covert cameras, rather than static ones.”