A 40,000 closed-circuit television scheme will be installed to cut crime around Oxford's Worcester Street car park, writes Emma Henry.
Work on the scheme, which will see four cameras covering the corridor from the station into the city via Park End Street, is due to start in December.
The news comes in the week that the Oxford Mail highlighted the problem of aggressive begging in the car park.
The cameras are being funded by a successful 40,000 Home Office bid. The 3,000 annual running costs for the scheme, which is expected to be operating in March, will be met by the city council, and the private sector. Oxford City Council crime strategy co-ordinator Pamela Reilly said: "The cameras aren't just going to cover the car park, they are going to cover that area up from the train station to the city centre, where there are a lot of clubs and fast food outlets."
On Tuesday, the Oxford Mail reported beggars had been seen operating in the car park, buying parking tickets from motorists and selling them on.
Ms Reilly said: "Hopefully, CCTV will cut down on problems with beggars in the car park."
The scheme has also been welcomed by Thames Valley Police. Oxford police spokesman Duncan McGraw said: "The Worcester Street car park area does suffer from crime, especially car crime, and extra cameras will help us cut crime further in the city centre."
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