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Safety boost as town centre CCTV goes fully digital across South Oxfordshire

Five new high-definition CCTV cameras have been installed in Didcot town centre, completing a £160,000 project to digitise town centre CCTV cameras across the district.

The new cameras have directly replaced the remaining analogue models and complete the project to upgrade nine cameras across South Oxfordshire.  This means all cameras are now fully digitalised, providing the district council’s CCTV operators with much greater picture clarity to help support public safety and to assist the emergency services.

The new cameras are also more energy efficient than the old analogue ones, playing a small part in helping the council to reduce its carbon emissions.

Following a community safety consultation and feedback from the town council, the Didcot CCTV project also included installing a new camera to cover the junction by the Cow Lane bridge. This new camera ensures coverage of both pedestrian and vehicular activity in a key part of the town, helping to improve public safety over a wider area.

Detailed Description The view is taken from a slightly elevated perspective, overlooking the junction. Foreground: In the immediate lower left, there is a piece of street furniture (possibly a camera, sensor, or utility box) mounted on a pole, with some overgrown weeds and grass around its base. The foreground also features a mix of pavement/sidewalk and a small, grassy, and slightly neglected divider area with some low-lying plants. Mid-Ground (Traffic & Junction): Two cars are visible on the road: A blue estate/wagon is driving left across the frame. A dark grey SUV is turning or driving toward the centre of the frame. The junction itself is controlled by traffic lights, with one set visible on the far right and another small set visible near the tunnel entrance. A large, blank signpost stands in the middle of a small island separating two lanes. Various road markings and pedestrian crossing lines are clearly visible on the tarmac. Background (Tunnel & Advertising): The dominant feature in the distance is an underpass or tunnel running beneath what looks like a raised embankment, possibly for a railway line. A third, dark car is emerging from this tunnel. To the left of the tunnel entrance, there is a large, temporary advertising board on an area of land being developed or used for storage. The sign reads: "STATION FLOORING" in large red letters. "RETAIL & COMMERCIAL FLOORING" in smaller letters. The entire area is bordered by fences and dense trees/bushes on the embankment, giving the area a somewhat industrial or infrastructural feel. Street signs are also scattered throughout the background. The lighting suggests a sunny day with clear shadows. The overall impression is of a functional, busy urban traffic route near a station or major crossing point.

Didcot’s CCTV upgrade, including installation and control room works cost more than £13,000 and was funded by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The district council, in partnership with Vale of White Horse District Council, runs the CCTV control room that oversees town centre schemes in Abingdon, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley, Thame and Wallingford and Wantage.

The service provides an important role in helping the police to keep people safe and detect crime. Last year, CCTV operators monitored over 300 incidents in Didcot alone and supported the police in making 23 arrests in the town.

Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: The installation of these new high-definition cameras in Didcot marks the final step in fully digitalising our public space CCTV across South Oxfordshire’s town centres. With more than £160,000 invested in new cameras, cabling and control room technology, we’re providing clearer images to support public safety, assist emergency services and help reduce crime – while also improving energy efficiency to support our carbon reduction goals.

For more information about CCTV schemes that South Oxfordshire District Council runs please visit southoxon.gov.uk/cctv  

Editors note: The South and Vale CCTV service is run, managed and funded by South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council, with funding from TVP towards running costs and contributions from town councils