Revealed: Anti-vandal cameras haven't been working for SIX WEEKS
Cameras designed to catch fly-tippers and vandals in Darlaston have not been working for six weeks, it has emerged.
The hawk-eye cameras, paid for by Walsall Council through area partnership group funds at a cost of £5,000, have been out of use while fires and fly-tipping have been happening across the town.
Darlaston South Councillor Doug James has called the out of action cameras a 'scandalous misuse of public funds and resources'.
In recent months there have been fires at the Boat Pub in Bentley Road – which led to a temporary road closure, reports of a fire at the former Darlaston Town FC ground and concerns over anti-social behaviour persist.
West Midlands Police spokesperson Kate Baker confirmed that officers were aware the cameras are currently faulty.
But, she added, that the cameras were not the responsibility of the force to maintain.
Councillor James said: "I have ascertained from the Darlaston Area Partnership and local police team that none of the hawk-eye cameras are working in the area.
"Two were paid for from partnership funds, neither of which have been working for over six weeks.
"This is a scandalous misuse of public funds and resources.
"Bull Lane, Moxley has had several tyre fires and fly-tipping incidents during this period.
"Herbert's Park Road has also had several reported incidents of fly-tipping.
"Resources are being wasted as local residents suffer anti-social and criminal behaviour in their communities.
"If we are going to set up these cameras for a specific purpose, we need to make sure they are properly maintained.
"My concern is that these negative issues are happening, there is no doubt about that and if the police are called to an incident where we know there are cameras in place, they will find that they actually can't find anything more out because the cameras aren't working."
The area partnership groups who organised the purchase of the cameras consist of members from community groups, West Midlands Police, residents and the council.
Police have said that they are attempting to tackle anti-social behaviour in Darlaston by issuing community protection notices to offenders.
Sergeant Mo Shahid, of the Darlaston Neighbourhood Team, said: "Darlaston neighbourhood team is working closely with partners agencies such as Walsall Council and housing associations to address various issues being reported.
"We are now issuing community protection notices, a tool under the Crime & Policing Act 2014 legislation which provides the police and partner agencies greater powers to influence ones behaviour.
"Since issuing these we have seen a reduction in repeat cases being reported allowing the police to focus on keeping your community safe and protecting you from harm."
Walsall Council was unavailable for comment.
