LEYTONSTONE: CCTV victory for family of raped woman (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LEYTONSTONE: CCTV victory for family of raped woman

9:56am Wednesday 6th July 2011 in Your Local Areas By Daniel Binns

LEYTONSTONE: U-turn over CCTV after campaign by rape victim's family

TRANSPORT bosses have agreed to install CCTV cameras on a footbridge following a campaign by the family of a woman who was raped on it.

It comes after the 24-year-old was attacked on the walkway, which goes over the A12 by Norman Road in Leytonstone, in the early hours of a Saturday morning back in February.

Police had hoped to catch the man responsible using CCTV footage but it emerged there were no cameras in the area.

After repeated attempts to get a response from Transport for London (TfL), which maintains the bridge, the woman's family were outraged when two months later they were told CCTV was not "cost effective" or an "appropriate crime prevention measure".

But now, following negotiations with Waltham Forest Council, TfL has agreed to install the devices.

TfL said it was now able to afford the cameras because the council had agreed to monitor footage from them.

The woman's family, none of whom can be identified for legal reasons, cautiously welcomed the news but said they had not yet received direct confirmation from Waltham Forest Council.

Her father and mother, both 52, said in a joint statement: "TfL and the council will ultimately be judged on the power of their actions, not their words.

"Our family's struggle will not be over until the day CCTV is actually installed on the footbridge and the health and safety of local women and men is protected."

They added: "we are grateful for the intercession from London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold, who is working on this case on our behalf."

A TfL spokesman said: "Now this [arrangement] has been confirmed by the council, TfL will continue to work with the borough to implement safety improvements on the footbridge within the next few months.

“Subject to funding, further work to improve a number of footbridges that cross the A12 will also be carried out during 2013/14.”

Waltham Forest Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Clyde Loakes, said the authority had agreed to monitor the footage from its new CCTV control centre, which is due to open in October.

He added: “We also want to see the opaque side panels of the footbridge replaced with wire mesh as this would ensure the bridge is open, visible, safe and far less likely to provide cover for crime or anti-social behaviour.

“These bridges are a matter of concern for our residents, and we’ve been lobbying for three years get the issue sorted.”

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter