1,800 Staffordshire crimes commited by outsiders

More than 1,800 crimes were committed in Staffordshire by outsiders commuting into the county in just a year, it has been revealed.

Culprits who crossed the county border struck 358 times in Cannock during the 12-month period, and on 240 occasions in Lichfield.

There were 407 crimes committed by people who live outside Staffordshire at last year's V Festival, county council bosses have revealed. There were 67 offences recorded in Burntwood and the same number in Rugeley.

In Stafford the figure was 56, with 63 in Codsall and 60 in Wombourne. More than 500 crimes in Tamworth brought the total to 1,822.

It comes after it was announced crime-fighting cameras will be introduced across the county to tackle the problem. Further details about the £400,000 scheme emerged today.

Up to 20 per cent of offences in some areas are being committed by outsiders, a report to Staffordshire County Council's cabinet states.

Fifty-seven cameras fitted with automatic number plate recognition technology will be installed at 13 hotspot routes linking Staffordshire with other counties, while eight mobile camera units will roam the streets. Locations of fixed cameras have been decided based on police intelligence.

"In terms of the deployment of cameras, it has been agreed nationally that the locations of cameras are not publicised to increase their effectiveness," the report states.

Staffordshire Police is matching the £200,000 the county council spend on setting up the cameras – which will go live in September – while the force will also meet running costs. Number plate details are captured by the cameras and sent to a control centre, which alerts police.

Chief Superintendent Jon Drake said: "It means if a house gets burgled we can look at what vehicle makes off from the scene."

By Mark Mudie