Moray council join forces with Police Scotland to spend £150,000 upgrading CCTV cameras

A council has announced plans to spend £150,000 upgrading Moray’s CCTV network.

The new cameras are expected to help operators alert emergency services to any live incidents as part of a partnership with Police Scotland.

Moray councillors approved £150,000 to replace all cameras, monitoring equipment and increase CCTV coverage across the area in a bid help police tackle anti-social behaviour and crime as well as locate missing persons.

The new equipment is already operational in Elgin with Forres, Lossiemouth, Buckie and Keith set to benefit next.

Speaking as Moray Council elected members toured the monitoring facility, convener Marc Macrae, said: “The uncomfortable truth for many is that CCTV is necessary and investing in it is essential.

“The partnership between Police Scotland and Moray Council allows us to roll this programme of upgraded cameras and equipment out, with the safety of Moray residents the main focus for both agencies.

“My hope is that it will act as a deterrent and will reassure people in Moray that we all take seriously our role in keeping people safe.”

Chief inspector Simon Reid, area commander said: “The recent upgrade to the CCTV equipment in Elgin, and now ongoing across Moray, is welcomed.

“This project has seen the replacement of cameras, monitoring equipment and increased CCTV coverage across Moray.

“Police use of public space CCTV by our experienced operators here in Elgin, is not just as a responsive tool to evidence crimes that may have occurred but critically to deter or allow us to proactively respond to prevent these taking place in the first place.

“We further routinely use CCTV to search, trace and locate often vulnerable individuals within our communities such as missing people.

“Working with Moray Council, this upgrade greatly enhances our ability to collectively keep Moray one of the safest communities to live and work in the country.”