District Council's CCTV operator honoured

One of Stratford-on-Avon District Council's CCTV operators has been honoured at the Warwickshire Police Awards Ceremony for the work carried out in tracking an escaped prisoner.

The District Council's operator received the Chief Constable's Commendation at the recent award ceremony.

Commendations are normally reserved for Police Officers, but in special circumstances may be awarded to members of the community.  The award was given for CCTV's work in the capture of a prison escapee who was serving a sentence for double murder. 

In October last year the CCTV operator was instrumental in helping track down a prisoner who had absconded from HMP Hewell and had been on the run for 10 days, by identifying the prisoner and then communicating with the Police to lead them to the exact location where he was hiding in Alcester.

Cllr Gillian Roache, Community Safety, Health & Well Being says: “This is an excellent acknowledgement for the District Council's CCTV team in how their work is instrumental in protecting our District residents and communities from harm.  It is also an excellent example of partnership working with the Police."

It is District Council policy not to name CCTV operatives, due to the confidential and sensitive nature of their work.

The name of the offender cannot be disclosed as the case is still in progress.