CCTV in Sandwich is set to be upgraded in a matter of days just as questions are raised over its effectiveness.

Dean Marie addressed councillors at Monday's full council meeting calling for action over the outdated system claiming he was told it was no longer being monitored due to the departure of banks from the town.

His plea comes after recent attempted break-ins at The Spar, El's Belles gift shop and St Peter's Church in Market Street, anti-social behaviour during the Christmas Light's switch-on event and vandalism to the the town's Christmas Light's display on New Year's Day.

Mr Marie said: "It seems there is an issue with CCTV in the town following three break-ins in two months in Market Street - but nothing was captured on CCTV.

"One of the business owners contacted Dover District Council (DDC) and was told that the 'DDC no longer uses or monitors the CCTV in Sandwich due to no banks being in the town'."

The chairman of the Sandwich Lights committee said he had also submitted a Freedom on Information questioning whether the cameras are monitored 24 hours a day. The response he received was a link to the Community Safety & CCTV part of DDC's website.

He added: "We have noticed a lot of low level crime taking place, groups of youths hanging around and even a council member was assaulted, but the person was released without charge due to insufficient evidence.

"This was even though there were two witnesses and it would have been caught by the CCTV camera in Cattle Market.

"What is going to be done?"

The Mayor of Sandwich Cllr Jeff Franklin responded to say that a new system was due to go live by the end of the month.

The £280,000 investment will see new digital technology replace existing cameras across Sandwich, Dover and Deal, along with the introduction of the first CCTV cameras in Aylesham.

The new technology also enables future investment in town centre Wi-Fi.

According to DDC's website, Sandwich has eight CCTV cameras.

In its the 2018/19 annual report, DDC recorded 63 incidents on camera, 44 of which police attended, leading to one arrest.

A district council spokesman said: “Dover District has CCTV monitoring across the district 24 hours a day, all year round. We are currently in the middle of a major CCTV upgrade and investment across the district, costing over £300,000, including a new digital control room, which includes additional staff.”

“This investment and increased capacity from DDC is in contrast to many other local authorities who have withdrawn this service. Community safety is a key priority for Dover District, and this investment is evidence of that.”

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