Hull in print

A CCTV camera operator has received special praise for helping police to catch a rapist.
Jim Marshall, who works in Hull City Council's CCTV control centre, was commended by a judge at Hull Crown Court.
Using his skills in operating the cameras he helped officers track down a man shortly after he raped a woman in Hull City Centre last year.
"I was just doing my job," said Jim (27).
"There are a lot of people who think the cameras are a bad thing and that they don't work - but I honestly feel they make the city a safer place."
It was in the early hours of the morning when police requested help from the council's CCTV control centre - after a member of the public reported seeing a woman in the street who was partially naked and covered in blood.
"The image of her face will stay with me till the day I die," said Jim, who back-tracked the camera's digital recordings a few minutes to reveal that she had staggered out of an alley.
Back-tracking even further, he saw a male coming out of the same alley and was able to use the system to follow where he went, while at the same time keeping in close contact with police.
Officers were able to arrest the man within 90 minutes and he has now been jailed.
Jim could now be in line for a Crown Court Commendation – an award often given to police officers - for an outstanding performance in helping to crack crime.

Camera factfile:

There are 332 public area CCTV cameras across Hull
More than 2,000 arrests have been made in the past year as a result of the cameras
More than 4,500 pieces of recorded footage have been produced as evidence since the cameras were set up in 2000
The CCTV team works with many agencies including the council's trading standards and antisocial behaviour teams, as well as pub and club watch schemes, the Community Wardens, City Centre Ambassadors and Night Marshals.


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