Chester’s hi-tech way of tackling grime crime

CHESTER City Council is funding a project that will use the latest technology to improve the way street cleansing teams receive and respond to reports of environmental crime.

The new system, designed by the council’s information technology team, allows the contact centre to send jobs to the most appropriate area -based team following reports from the public or councillors who have highlighted a problem.

This allows the team to respond to priority jobs within the specified periods. At present this work is paper-based and involves several processes before it is allocated to the right team. The new system will save time, paper and cut out unnecessary bureaucracy allowing the teams to prioritise their work load and improve their efficiency.

Slightly larger than a mobile phone, the Nokia 1615 allows teams to receive the details of jobs on screen. It also enables them to take before and after photographs when necessary, to record completed work and pinpoint fly-tipping or other waste related calls. Photographs can also be used as evidence for the council’s environmental protection team when taking enforcement action.

The council’s award winning graffiti-cleaning team will also use the new way of working and their photographic evidence will be used to record images of racist and other offensive graffiti.

Deputy Leader of the Council and ICT Champion, councillor Stephen Mosley said: “We are always looking at new ways of improving council services through ICT and by working with the street cleansing teams we have developed a high-tech solution to an age old problem.”

Executive Member for Environment, councillor Jill Houlbrook said: “This technology has been developed by our officers for the benefit of all our service users. Using this equipment will build on the excellent service already provided by our street scene teams. This is another initiative designed to improve the quality of life for our residents, businesses and visitors and I welcome it as part of our armoury against street crime and grime.”

Service manager, Simon Lammond said: “This ensures that Chester City Council’s street cleansing team is at the forefront of the battle to improve environmental quality for residents and visitors to Chester.

“The project has undergone months of development and will go fully live before Christmas.”