Rugby’s new speaker cameras have been live for just over two months and already they are having a positive impact on tackling anti-social and violent behaviour. The four talking speaker cameras are now in use and have been issuing verbal warnings to anyone seen breaking the law. The success of the cameras is under the watchful eye of the Rugby BID Company and already the new system is seeing results. The main areas that the talking cameras have targeted have been anti-social behaviour by groups of youths in the town centre and fighting on the streets during the evening. In the majority of cases the first warning issued has been successful in diffusing the situation, discouraging anti-social behaviour and preventing fights from escalating further.

“The introduction of this system is already proving useful and is helping us tackle problems in our town centre quickly,” said Aftab Gaffar, Operations Director of the Rugby BID Company. “The way in which the talking cameras work, by issuing warnings, means that we can give an instant reaction to a situation and that the people involved are made aware immediately that they are being recorded by CCTV and that their actions are being monitored. The effect of this so far, has produced positive results with most incidents being stopped after one warning.”

Rugby BID has already worked hard to improve the security and safety within the town centre with the CCTV system and the Rangers. The talking cameras are another initiative that will help reduce anti-social behaviour further, particularly during the evenings and weekends, making Rugby a more inviting and safer place to visit.