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Cameras to target station's hot spot Mar 29 2002 By Vicky Wilks, South London Press A MUGGING hot spot outside a Tube station will be at the centre of a new network of CCTV cameras covering main roads and housing estates. Oval Tube station in Clapham Road, which has been identified by cops as a street robbery hot spot, is to get a share of 15 state-of-the- art new cameras to be fitted across north Lambeth by summer. The cameras will be on Lower Marsh, Baylis Road, Kennington Park Road, Camberwell New Road and Clapham Road. North Lambeth is the last of the five 'town centre' areas in the borough of Lambeth to get cameras - busy streets in Brixton, Norwood, Stockwell, Clapham and Streatham are already under surveillance. Brixton and Stockwell Tube stations also have cameras. The images are monitored 24 hours a day from the council's CCTV control room. A Lambeth council spokesman said: "The system will help in the prevention, detection and prosecution of street crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, and will help protect the environment." The technology is funded by Lambeth Council, the Waterloo Project Board, Circle Initiative and Cross River Partnership. There are also plans in the pipeline for more cameras on or close to housing estates, including between Cowley and Church Manor estates, on Myatts Field North and South estates, and Holland Town Estate. Residents have worked with Lambeth Council to bid for Government cash to pay for those cameras and are now waiting for planning approval from Lambeth Council. Vassall ward councillor Alex McKenna emphasised CCTV in isolation is not enough to fight the crimes that affect north Lambeth - street robbery, burglary and drug dealing. He said: "The cameras will give residents a greater sense of security and assist police in convictions, but ultimately it comes down to better policing as well - we have got to get more police on the beat and working with local people." He added: "Some of the crimes are a reflection of the lack of amenities for young people, particularly sporting activities. Schools can help by introducing activities outside of normal opening hours."

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