Council defends councillor’s CCTV (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Council defends councillor’s CCTV

9:44pm Monday 26th January 2009 in

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Some taxpayers have criticised plans to fit surveillance cameras at a leading councillors’ home following an attack by vandals who poured acid over her two cars.

Bradford Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said she was “sickened” after her Vauxhall Tigra was written off in the attack.

Paintwork was also stripped from her husband’s Vauxhall Astra and it will need to be re-sprayed.

Councillor Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, said she believed there was a “strong possibility” the vandalism had been caused by animal rights extremists because of her support for grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor.

Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves, agreed to install CCTV at Coun Hawkesworth’s Ilkley home after the attack on Friday.

The move has sparked anger from residents who posted critical comments on the Telegraph & Argus website.

But the leaders of Bradford Council’s other political groups have defended the decision to protect Conservative Councillor Hawkesworth against “un-democratic” activists. Labour leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: “Politics should be about intellectual debate. If councillors start to be threatened in this way by people who are, frankly, lunatics, they should be protected by the Council.”

Liberal leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland added: “Councillors of all political parties put up with erosion of time, quality of life and their personal safety and it is right and proper that the public should be prepared to support them.”

Mr Reeves insisted costs would be kept to a minimum. He said: “The Council has agreed to install CCTV at Coun Hawkesworth’s home.

“CCTV is used to protect councillors property if it is believed the damage may have been a result of their Council activities. It is likely that we can use existing mobile equipment from our CCTV unit to improve the safety. Any costs associated with that will be staff costs and minimal installation costs.”

However, taxpayer Philip Ferriby, 56, of New Works Road, Low Moor, Bradford, said: “It is an insult that Tony Reeves said the Council will supply CCTV cameras.”

Coun Hawkesworth said: “Despite what people are saying on the T&A website, I can’t pay for them (the CCTV cameras) myself because they will be monitored by the Council’s system and will work through a broadband line.

“What I will be doing, however, is paying for floodlights in my garden to be put on a sensor.

“It is costing a considerable amount of money to replace the cars.”

Police were last night still investigating the incident.