Additional CCTV cameras installed in Hemel Hempstead town centre

Additional CCTV cameras have been installed in Hemel Hempstead town centre as part of a project to tackle anti-social behaviour and serious violence.

Home Office funding for the cameras was secured as part of Operation Hotspot, which was launched in Hertfordshire in May 2024, following a bid by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The initiative has enabled extra foot patrols to be carried out in identified hotspot areas across the county, on top of normal daily business, and has also seen additional crime prevention measures being introduced.

In Dacorum, following an analysis of data, the hotspot was identified as Hemel Hempstead town centre and the Old Town.

The constabulary has worked with Dacorum Borough Council to install six new mobile CCTV cameras in key locations in the area, which are now all up and running.

In the first three months, the new cameras assisted with more than 60 incidents, including:

• Locating missing and wanted people
• Investigations into assaults and violent crime
• Safeguarding matters
• Drug criminality
• Vehicle crime

PC James Tassell, from the Op Hotspot Policing Team, said: “Operation Hotspot has yielded some fantastic results across the county since it launched, with thousands of hours of additional patrols being carried out and extra arrests being made.

“Alongside the patrols, we’ve sought to put additional measures in place to help prevent crime from taking place and to help us identify perpetrators more easily when crimes do occur. These new cameras are already helping us to do just that.”

Cllr Simy Dhyani, Dacorum Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Property Services, said: “The new mobile CCTV cameras mark a step forward in our commitment to making Dacorum a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.

“The cameras support the work of our local police while also helping residents, businesses and visitors feel more secure. We are committed to creating standards in our town centre that ensure everyone feels safe and welcome.”

During Op Hotspot patrols in Hemel Hempstead between 1 April and 1 November:

• 1,379 additional hours of high visibility patrols were carried out.
• Seven additional arrests were made, on top of normal daily arrests.
• Ten additional stop searches were carried out.
• ASB powers were utilised 43 times.