Welshpool bid to name and shame offenders

Thugs who commit anti-social behaviour in a Mid Wales town could soon find their pictures published in newspapers to try to crack down on the problem.

Welshpool Town Council is considering extending its CCTV system in the town centre and publishing pictures of regular offenders on the pages of local newspapers as part of a monthly rogues' gallery.

Town clerk Robert Robinson said the plans were at an early stage but if the CCTV committee recommended it, images could start appearing next year.

He said: "The plan is to use the system in three ways: Firstly to report criminal acts as they happen to the police, to gain pictures and evidence of anti-social behaviour with a view to publishing pictures in the media once a month, and there may also be cases where the council will bring a private prosecution to help reduce such behaviour, which is becoming more and more unacceptable.

"The committee has been discussing various things they can do to make sure the CCTV system is really effective, but chasing up each individual you see dropping litter for example is costly and difficult for the police.

"So one idea they have had is to get images of people who have committed smaller crimes and put them in the local media in a rogues' gallery.

"This could be a rather easier way of identifying these people who commit crimes and I also imagine it would act as quite a deterrent.

"Nothing has been decided though and it will be discussed in due course."

Before taking the plan forward the council is seeking to gain public opinion.

To have your say write to Welshpool Town Council, The Town Clerk's Office, Triangle House, Union Street, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7PG, before the middle of November.

Welshpool Town Council can also be contacted by emailing wtcouncil@btinternet.com

If the proposals get the green light a number of warning signs will be placed around Welshpool so everyone is aware of the programme.

By Andrew Morris