Essex Police explain CCTV delays

In one case, the force issued an appeal in which a man brandished a gun at staff at a Sainsbury’s Local store, in Southend, six months after it happened.

Mick Thwaites, a former police commander who lost out in last year’s police and crime commissioner election, described delays due to alleged inefficiency as “unacceptable”.

He said: “The best police officers are the public.

They’re out there every day and are the eyes and ears of the force. They know what is unusual and who people in their community are.

“It’s really helpful to get CCTV footage out there as soon as possible. The public can respond and help identify suspects.

“An image is more effective than just words too – that’s why people watch Crimewatch.

“If inefficiencies are stopping the footage getting out there, that’s unacceptable.”

But he cautioned the force may withhold images for fear of unduly influencing a witness, in cases where the police expect someone to appear in an identity parade.

One Southend shopkeeper, who didn’t want to be named, said he waited two weeks for a visit from police after his store was targeted by an armed robber.

He added: “I’ve not heard anything since. I have no idea what they are doing and all I can do is wait really.”

An Essex Police spokesman said officers seek to obtain images as soon as possible after a crime.

He added: “Delays will often occur as officers generally rely on CCTV being downloaded by the owner as quickly as possible and then it being handed over to the investigating officers.

“The officers then rely on CCTV being available in viewable format and if it isn’t will spend time converting it so that it can be watched.

“Once this has been done, the CCTV will be circulated within the force to ascertain if any of the suspects or witnesses can be identified by officers.”

He said that the force aims to do this within 24 hours for violent crime – and that footage is then sent to the media as soon as possible.