'Victory as CCTV stays at Rainham Recreation Ground' - say Medway Liberal Democrats

Medway Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that the temporary CCTV we pressured Medway Council to install in Rainham Recreation Ground has now been officially made a permanent camera on the Council’s CCTV list. After the 6-month trial, a dramatic drop in crime and anti-social behaviour has been recorded, with instances of nitrous oxide- and drug-taking dropping to almost zero.

We championed this campaign because of the years of drug-taking, vandalism and graffiti occurring in the park without anything being done to stop it by the underfunded police and Council. Even when reported to local Conservative councillors, the reports have been dismissed. Believing that Medway residents deserve better, Medway Liberal Democrats began a petition to insist CCTV be installed in the park to ensure the safety of its users.

We would like to thank all the residents who signed the petition we set up back in June 2022, as well as the other residents and groups like the Rainham Recreation Ground Community Group who also ran petitions to get CCTV installed. It goes to show what can be done if we all work together. It has been a difficult battle, as Medway Council did not want to do it, nor did the Rainham Conservative Councillors, who insisted that it was not cost-effective, and residents should police the park themselves.

Stuart Bourne, local Lib Dem campaigner and member of the Friends of Rainham Rec, says ‘It doesn’t much to realise that the park’s anti-social problems can be reduced with the additional of CCTV. That is why it always shocked me when we got so much push back from the local councillors when we suggested it. Therefore, we are delighted that the council is now agreeing with us and that the CCTV is here to stay. This is a great victory for all those who signed the petitions and made their voice heard. This a victory for the community and common sense.’

Medway Liberal Democrats will continue to push for safer streets and parks across Medway, through the effective use of community policing and CCTV where necessary.

ENDS