When is a CCTV camera not a CCTV camera? Answer: When it is a "mounting bracket"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Apr 2006

Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom Conservative councillor Julian Grainger was left embarrassed at the inaugural meeting of the local Metropolitan Police Neighbourhood Team on Wednesday night when members of the public questioned the existence of permanent CCTV cameras in Windsor Drive.

Windsor Drive has suffered many problems with street crime, and attacks on retail premises - and residents wanted information on the content of a recent Conservative newsletter in the area about CCTV.

In the leaflet delivered to local residents by the Conservatives the following article appeared [text of article in full]:

NEWS FLASH:

New CCTV in Windsor Drive

Following constant pressure from your local Conservative Councillors, Bromley Council has now installed a CCTV Camera near the notorious graffiti hot-spot at The Meadway.

This was accompanied by a photo of Cllr Grainger with the caption "Cllr Grainger shows new CCTV"

Many local residents have looked for a camera, especially as the photo had a circle where the camera is supposed to be, but could not see one. Which is not surprising as only major shopping centres in the Borough have permanent CCTV.

Council officers at the meeting confirmed that the Council has no CCTV in Windsor Drive. A shameless Councillor Grainger stood up to say he was responsible for the article, but fellow Conservative councillors went red with embarrassment when he admitted that it is not a permanent camera but "a mounting bracket for a camera."

Bromley Council have a small number of mobile temporary CCTV units to put on sites, and a bracket has been put in place to take one of these cameras, if called for.

Lib Dem councillors called at the recent Council annual budget meeting for more of these cameras.

Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom Liberal Democrat Duncan Borrowman said: "Crime and anti-social behaviour is a major issue here, which impacts a great deal on people's lives. Julian Grainger should not be messing around with petty party politics and lies over such a serious issue just to get re-elected. In the same leaflet the Conservatives said that the Lib Dems are 'Out of Touch' because 'The Lib Dems moaned about lack of CCTV - in the same week that CCTV is installed in Windsor Drive'. I have news for Councillor Grainger - he is the one that is out of touch, because the CCTV camera does not exist."