Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has recommended that it downgrade all of its 157 CCTV cameras to passive cameras, at a saving of just £100k. This means cameras will no longer be monitored live, despite Kent Police telling the Committee that they:

"Greatly value the CCTV networks across the County as an important tool for the prevention and investigation of crime and anti-social behaviour."

A motion by Jon Botten, Conservative Councillor for Medway Ward in Tonbridge, to retain the level of CCTV in the borough was rejected although the final decision will be taken by the Cabinet at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. 

We therefore request that the Cabinet does not follow the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and chooses to reinstate live CCTV provision.

Jon Botten, Matt Boughton and James Lark
Conservative Councillors for Medway Ward, Tonbridge