Co-SIGN

Chester Community Safety Partnership has developed a new communications system called "Community Safety Information Gathering Network" ( Co-SIGN ). This is an intelligent radio system that allows organisations providing services in the city centre to pass information to each other at the push of a button. This includes the Police, shops and retailers, public transport operators, Street Envoys, River Patrol and CCTV Control.

Co-SIGN allows agencies to quickly share information, for example a shopkeeper can quickly contact the CCTV team if an incident occurs in the store or the Street Envoys can contact the CCTV team if they witness an anti-social activity taking place in the street. This information enables the CCTV Operators to direct the cameras more effectively, gather evidence and swiftly alert relevant emergency services as necessary.

The CCTV centre is also equipped with a direct Police telephone line and Police radio. This ensures the Police can be quickly contacted as an incident starts to unfold on screen.

The CCTV Operator is also able to transmit Images of an incident to the Police Control via fibre optic links enabling the CCTV Operator to offer the "full picture" when reporting an incident.