The fight against antisocial behaviour in East Lothian has taken to the roads with the introduction of a new £20,000 CCTV van to the county.

The specially-adapted Ford connect van has a roof-mounted camera capable of rotating 360 degrees. It will provide a CCTV presence in parts of the county that are not currently covered by the fixed camera network. It will also be able to attend events and respond to localised patterns of antisocial behaviour. The high quality images that are captured will be backed-up at a secure location and will be permissible as evidence in a court of law.

The CCTV van will not have a fixed route or times of operation, instead using intelligence gathered from police or the community to determine its activities on a weekly basis. This flexible approach also means that potential perpetrators will not know when or where to expect the van. Key hours of operation are expected to be Friday and Saturday nights.

Cabinet member for Community Services Councillor Stuart Currie believes that the van will be a great asset for communities in East Lothian, saying: “Fear of crime can have a debilitating effect on communities, preventing people from enjoying the facilities on offer to their fullest. The CCTV van will be a reassuring presence for those areas that are not covered by our fixed network and be much more responsive to identified hotspots. It will allow us to work proactively with the Police to tackle antisocial behaviour wherever it is occurring.”

The van is clearly marked with high visibility Lothian and Borders Police and East Lothian Council livery, and also includes telephone numbers for Crimestoppers and the Council’s dedicated antisocial behaviour helpline: 0845 601 8518. The van can hold up to five people and will be staffed by police and members of East Lothian Council’s antisocial behaviour team.

Neighbouring authorities Midlothian and Edinburgh both have similar mobile CCTV units. The introduction of the East Lothian van will give a complete ‘on the road’ service across the region.

Superintendent Murdo MacIver, East Lothian Area Commander for Lothian and Borders Police, said: “Experiences in other local authority areas overwhelmingly evidence that mobile CCTV vans act as a deterrent to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour, assist the prosecution of those who are determined to behave in such a manner and provide a highly visible means of reassurance to members of the community. I am delighted that the police and Council now have this highly effective tool at their disposal.”

East Lothian Council’s budget for 2008/09 dedicated £267,000 to developing CCTV across East Lothian. Alongside the van, the Council intends to expand the CCTV network to include Port Seton and Dunbar and work with North Berwick Community Council to ensure that their local scheme is fully funded by East Lothian Council.

Communities in East Lothian can report incidents of antisocial behaviour to a dedicated telephone helpline and email address. A call to 0845 601 8518 or email asb@eastlothian.gov.uk is an easy, safe and effective way to tackle antisocial behaviour in the area. The helpline is run by East Lothian Council working in partnership with Lothian and Borders Police, East Lothian Housing Association, Homes for Life and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service.