Smile, your on candid camera

Date: 12/5/2006
Source: Hackney Gazette
Author:

SHOREDITCH residents have flicked the switch on a ground-breaking new digital TV service that pledges to put them in the front row of the fight against crime.

The Digital Bridge system lets subscribers monitor a network of 12 CCTV cameras through their TV sets, making it possible to spy on neighbours.

The Big Brother-style scheme was launched by the minister for London and neighbourhood renewal, Jim Fitzpatrick, on Monday morning at Charles Gardner Court on the Haberdasher estate in Hoxton.

"This is an excellent example of residents being involved and developing their own responses to their own problems," said Mr Fitzpatrick.

"By involving people in the changes they want to see in their communities improvements will be more sustainable."

Along with the cameras, the new service will allow the police to make direct appeals for information using incident alerts that break into regular TV programming.

There will be a digital Respect Map, which will enable residents to download images of graffiti, vandalism and anti-social behaviour, forward them electronically to the council and check the response on-line.

The system will carry a series of dedicated crime prevention programmes, featuring on-going investigations, photo-fits, ASBOs and crime prevention advice specific to Hackney.

There will also be a range of other community-based services, including the world's fastest PC on TV internet service, a unique benefits calculator, community polling and discussion forums.

The £12 million Digital Bridge system has been produced by the Shoreditch Trust, a regeneration body which is based in Provost Street.

Micheal Pyner, chief executive of the Shoreditch Trust said: "This ground-breaking service enables everyone who lives in Shoreditch to take control in the fight against crime.

"People still refer with pride to the days when people in the East End looked out for each other.

"We know that this spirit still exists and we intend to offer a tool of the 21st century for people to be able to do that again.

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