Coxhoe Parish Council receives £7k CCTV grant from PCC

Coxhoe Parish Council has installed cameras along the High Street in a bid to deter anti-social behaviour and improve public safety.

The project was made possible by a £7,000 grant from County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen.

Ms Allen said: "I know how much residents in Coxhoe wanted CCTV in key public spaces and I am delighted to have supported Coxhoe Parish Council in bringing this project to fruition.

"We know that the presence of CCTV not only deters crime and anti-social behaviour from happening in the first place but also creates evidence-gathering opportunities to help the police and partners bring offenders to justice and provides immeasurable reassurance to residents and businesses alike.

"I am grateful to parish councillors for their determination and passion for increasing safety in Coxhoe, and our partners at the county council for supporting the project from the outset.

"Community safety is the responsibility of us all and this scheme is a shining example of the benefits of working together."

The static cameras, mounted on Durham County Council-owned lampposts, will be monitored by the parish council.

The PCC’s funding also covers part of the maintenance costs for the first year.

Cllr Stuart Dunn, chairman of Coxhoe Parish Council, said: "Community safety is a top priority for the parish council and enhancing security within the village was the primary objective of this project.

"We hope the new CCTV system contributes to a greater sense of safety and reassurance for all residents.

"We are certainly grateful for the support that made the successful completion of this initiative possible."

The scheme follows three years of collaboration between the parish council, Durham Constabulary, and the county council.

The groups developed a feasibility study based on crime statistics and public consultation, with 89.4 per cent of respondents supporting the cameras.

The parish council expects the CCTV to help reduce incidents of graffiti, low-level disorder, and damage to property and street furniture, as well as deter more serious crime over time.

After the first year, the parish council will assume full responsibility for ongoing costs.

The project aligns with the PCC’s broader rural crime prevention efforts.

Last year, Ms Allen launched the Rurali project, directing more than £200,000 in Safer Streets funding towards additional Ruralwatch coordinators and a dedicated intelligence officer.

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The scheme was designed to improve intelligence gathering and response times, helping to prevent harm and increase prosecutions in rural areas.

In a separate initiative, the PCC allocated £20,000 for 10 re-deployable CCTV cameras to target fly-tipping hotspots.

The investment supports Durham County Council’s efforts to tackle environmental crime and bring offenders to justice.