CCTV may be installed in a crime "hot spot" in a residential area of Ipswich in an attempt to tackle disorder.

Residents in a community just off Norwich Road set up an official Neighbourhood Watch area earlier this year after seeing a rise in break-ins and drug dealing on their streets.

The area - made-up of Brooks Hall Road, Blenheim Road, and the All Saints Church end of Waterloo Road – is now awaiting Suffolk County Council permission for the camera to be installed on one of the streetlights.

The new four-way CCTV camera would help monitor the area for a period of one year.

Following a study to consider privacy concerns, Ipswich Borough Council approved the plans, saying they are "justified and proportionate" to the issues being experienced in the area.

Ipswich Star: The area covers Brooks Hall Road, Blenheim Road, and the All Saints Church end of Waterloo Road.The area covers Brooks Hall Road, Blenheim Road, and the All Saints Church end of Waterloo Road. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Waterloo Road resident Ruman Muhith, and borough councillor for Priory Heath, worked towards installing CCTV after seeing the crime statistics for the streets near his home.

Mr Muhith said: “I looked at the publicly available crime stats, and there were 76 incidences over the last 12 months, for just these three roads. The council said the area would qualify for temporary CCTV. It would be a deterrent to crime."

Ipswich Borough Council owns a small number of temporary CCTV cameras for hot spot areas, to be used for periods of up to one year for their officers to monitor these areas, and along with partner agencies help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. 

A council spokesperson said: “CCTV for this area was assessed with support from Suffolk Police and has been considered a justified and proportionate response to the issues being experienced in the area.

“A feasibility study has been carried out to consider the technical aspects and any privacy considerations of the proposed deployment and we are in the process of waiting for confirmation from Suffolk County Council that one of their streetlight columns can be utilised for the deployment.

 “If the column is considered feasible, a camera and CCTV signage will be deployed for a one-year period.”