QUICK thinking by Fenland District Council’s CCTV operators led to the arrests of two men suspected of carrying out a robbery in Wisbech last month.

One of the pair was known to be wanted by the police for previous offences and the CCTV team had notified police when they spotted him and another man heading along Lynn Road and into De Havilland Road.

Subsequently a report came in over the police airwaves about the robbery in De Havilland Road, with a description of the two men responsible. The CCTV team immediately put two and two together and as a result of the information they provided the duo were tracked down and arrested.

CCTV contributed directly to 41 arrests and 11 fixed penalty notices being issued across the district in September.

Last week wireless CCTV cameras were set up in two roads in Wisbech that have been identified as priority areas by the police and the Safer Fenland team. They were installed in Norwich Road and Falcon Road as part of the latest deployment of the mobile cameras across the district.

Councillor Ken Mayor, FDC’s portfolio holder for safer, stronger communities and chairman of the Safer Fenland Partnership, said: “The arrests of the men suspected of the robbery in Wisbech is a particularly good example of the way that the close collaboration between our CCTV team and the police is helping to combat all sorts of crime and antisocial behaviour.”

Other successful arrests last month included those of four men for assault offences – two after a fight in the High Street in Chatteris and two others following a similar incident in March town centre.

Shoplifters and drink-drivers were among the other offenders caught on camera in September.

The CCTV team also helped to locate a girl reported missing in Whittlesey. The cameras were used to search the area, leading to the girl being traced and returned home safe and well.