CCTV used to battle bonfire night trouble

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North Lanarkshire Council is using its IP CCTV - one of the largest in Europe - to monitor potential problems in the lead up to Bonfire Night on 5 November.

Quoting government statistics, the council said that across the UK, a thousand people get injured by fireworks in the month leading up to 5 November. The Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (SFR) will receive four times as many calls on Bonfire Night than a regular night, putting ground crews under pressure.

The council has 250 cameras in its £1.3 million network, which was installed by NTL Telewest Business in February of this year. To help keep watch for errant fireworks and potential risks, the SFR has Group Commander Gerry MacMillan in the CCTV control centre in the lead up to the big night. "I will be at the CCTV control room to help assist operational crews on the ground," he said. "To identify concerns and communicate them to help use resources more efficiently."

Because the system is centralised and digital, it's easier for control room staff to analyse images in real time and contact the appropriate agencies. For example, sending a police car might be a better way of preventing arson or a fireworks mishap than involving SFR, said MacMillan.

"Centralisation gives it the opportunity to work with different agencies," said MacMillan. "The CCTV can identify areas of concern, which can be routed through police and other agencies."

If the CCTV is as successful at helping fire crews this weekend as MacMillan expects, he said SFR will look for more ways to make use of the IP CCTV network throughout the year.

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