Newport traders fume about lack of CCTV protection
'I'm worried about the on-off situation with the CCTV and what protection traders and customers get in Newport. It feels like we have no guaranteed security,' said Annette who has been trading in Newport for four decades.
Annette, who also runs a watch and jewellery repair service, said she has invested in her own security system to safeguard her customers and shop, and questions why the council can't do the same, despite a near half-million-pound annual budget.
'I have CCTV covering my shop and other security measures too. If anything goes wrong, I can fix it quickly because it keeps my customers safe. Why can't the council do the same? Why isn't the system working?
'These council executives are earning six-figure salaries and still can't fix the CCTV? It just doesn't make sense. Maybe there are too many managers and not enough people who fix things.'
She also criticised the council's response time to repairs, arguing that public safety should be a top priority.
'The safety of Newport's citizens should come first. Fix it now - not in six months when someone's already been mugged and there's no evidence. How many more elderly people need to be attacked before they act?'
Annette questioned why traders are expected to fund a system that costs over £415,000 a year yet fails to provide consistent coverage in known hotspot areas.
'It's simple: I can run my own system, why can't they run theirs with that kind of money?'
Her comments come amid growing scrutiny of Newport's city centre CCTV network, which includes 54 cameras and is intended to deter crime. Several cameras have reportedly been offline due to power surges, prompting concern from traders, residents, and councillors.
The issue was raised in council questions by Conservative opposition leader Cllr Matthew Evans, who said he had been contacted by multiple business owners frustrated by the system's failure to capture incidents.
'We pay a lot of money for that system, and we need to know it's providing a good service to traders and residents,' said Cllr Evans.
Other traders have echoed Annette's concerns. Chenir Ahmed, manager of Newport Vape Shop on Upper Dock Street, said his store has been repeatedly targeted by shoplifters and vandals.
'We don't know what works and what doesn't. People have smashed our windows and doors, and we've had people come in, grab stuff, and run off. Nothing happens—and we're fed up.'
The council has acknowledged the outages and said repairs are underway, including the installation of surge-resistant cabling.
But for traders like Annette, trust in the system is wearing thin.
Newport City Council has been approached for comment.
On Monday, the council acknowledged the issue and committed to repairs. The council also highlighted the flexibility of their camera network, which includes both fixed and remotely controllable units.
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