As Woodenbridge Community Alert fundraises to place CCTV on approach roads from the motorway, other communities in Laois are enjoying the benefits of crime reduction thanks to cameras in their area.
Dunmore Durrow Community Alert was a pioneer for such a scheme when they undertook a pilot one three years ago.
Following a spate of robberies, 157 families came together to talk about what they might do to take on the raiders.
Later, with the assistance of a €50,000 grant courtesy of the Department of the Environment and former minister Alan Kelly, they had the money to install a modern camera system.
In all 20 cameras were placed at seven locations on every road in and out of the area. These cameras were fitted with number plate recognition technology.
It is now hoped the success and experience in Laois will see it used as a template for countrywide rural CCTV across the country.
Laura Starnes, operations manager of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association who has lived in the area all her life, said more rural communities should be able to feel similarly secure.
She told the Irish Times: “It had been very worrying because of the level of crime that was going on in the countryside. If you were home alone with your children, you were very aware of it. Now we have the cameras, the crime levels have dropped so low. Everyone feels secure in their homes.”
Woodenbridge Community Alert is now following suit, with crime correspondent Paul Williams the guest of honour at their sponsored walk this Sunday.
Woodenbridge Community Alert chairman Michael G Phelan outlined their plans. “We decided at our last AGM to put in cameras in different locations. The first ones will be on the approach roads at the motorway where people are coming in and going out,” he said.
He estimated that the first works will cost around €3,500. Local business, Manor Stone will be looking after the cost of the electricity for the project.
Stolen
Mr Phelan believes the cameras are badly needed, especially as farm equipment and jeeps have been stolen in the area. “It is not pleasant when someone breaks into your house. I have seen it first hand… They go through personal items and seem to break anything that they can break,” he said.
The walk on Sunday from Woodenbridge at the River Erkina will take in 7km and has garnered a lot of interest already.
The Woodenbridge Community Alert will be hoping they follow in the footsteps of Dunmore and Durrow Community Alert and also significantly reduce crime and thefts in their area.
