Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas is backing calls from local police for a new CCTV camera at a known anti-social behaviour hotspot in Whitleigh.
Earlier this year, Mr Thomas joined officers from Crownhill Police Station on a ride-along to see the challenges they face on the ground. During the visit, officers highlighted recurring issues around the footbridge linking Bodmin Road and Whitleigh Way with Crownhill and Transit Way.
Police say the lack of CCTV in the area makes it difficult to identify suspects, especially with some offenders using e-bikes to make quick getaways across the bridge. Officers described it as a “CCTV blackspot” that is difficult to monitor.
The MP has now written to Plymouth City Council, urging them to install a camera and consider adding barriers or chicanes on the bridge to slow down escape routes. He says these steps would make it easier for officers to prevent crime and respond more effectively to incidents.
Mr Thomas said:
“Police officers in our city do an incredible job under increasingly challenging circumstances, and I was in awe of their work when I joined them for a ride along in Whitleigh earlier this year.
“It seems to me that we should be doing all we can to support officers as they tackle crime and keep our communities safe.
“This would be a relatively straightforward step that the city council could take to support officers in Whitleigh, and I hope they will be able to make arrangements to put these measures in place as soon as possible.”
