Violent crime in Scotland rose to its highest level ever last year and for that reason alone the police forces are right to launch a concerted campaign against it. Yet it is strange that one of the successful elements in existing efforts to combat
violence on the streets appears to be in serious danger of collapse through lack
of consistent funding. CCTV cameras did not find favour with everyone when they appeared on the streets of certain areas in the central belt of Scotland. There were civil rights anxieties and worries about snooping, but the various reviews of their operation have shown them to be an effective element in the fight against street crime and an important contribution to some criminal cases.
Needless to say, they are expensive to install and to run but, in marked contrast to the situation in England and Wales where substantial funds are made available through crime reduction programmes, in Scotland the burden falls on local councils with added support from police budgets. This is simply not sufficient.
The Scottish Executive has developed a habit of presenting local councils with ever-expanding schemes, together with targets which must be met. Unfortunately, it has also burdened them with the financial consequences of running the schemes. This is a useful technique for deflecting blame when things go wrong but, politically at least, it has been rumbled. Local government finance in Scotland requires a thorough overhaul, not to make things
easier for lax councils, but to ensure that vital services are provided and sustained properly. CCTV is an excellent case in point. The Scottish Executive must accept its responsibilities if its protestations on combating crime, including violent street crime, are to have any credibility.
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