INCREASING amounts of robberies at shops in outlying areas of Ipswich have prompted calls for CCTV.Traders at some shops on the Chantry estate are feeling vulnerable because of more and more attempts to rob their premises.

INCREASING amounts of robberies at shops in outlying areas of Ipswich have prompted calls for CCTV.

Traders at some shops on the Chantry estate are feeling vulnerable because of more and more attempts to rob their premises.

And a new government grant, which is being used to buy two new mobile CCTV cameras for the town, could mean the area might be considered for one of them.

The most recent raid took place at the Hawthorn Drive post office on Monday when the postmaster was attacked and beaten and had to have hospital treatment.

It was the second time the post office had been targeted in just over a month.

A member of staff at the neighbouring bakery has also been left traumatised and unable to work there anymore after a man walked in and robbed the premises while she was there.

One shop worker, who did not want to be named, said that while people did not think CCTV would prevent the robberies, it would at least go some way to getting the people caught.

He said: "Residents and shop keepers still feel that there should be CCTV.

"They all appreciate that you can have security up to a point but you can't stop stuff like that happening.

"People would like to think that they will be apprehended."

And in Lavender Hill on the estate, the Chantry Residents Association is trying to raise funds to buy their own CCTV cameras because of constant vandalism.

Ozzie Sibley is vice president of the association. He said: "We have problems with youths up here hanging around until about two or three in the morning.

"There have also been one or two attempted robberies.

"People are quite wary. If we had something like that we would feel more protected than we do at the moment.

"If anything did happen it would help to apprehend the culprits."

David Ellesmere, who is in charge of Community Safety at Ipswich Borough Council, as well as being deputy leader, said that the £20,000 Government grant would buy two mobile cameras and that the council was also trying to secure additional funding for more.

He said: "We would be looking at areas that have a high crime rate and level of anti-social behaviour.

"We hope to have the cameras in within the next two or three months."

Mr Ellesmere said that buying one camera costs £15,000 but additional ones can be bought for £6,000.

N Do you think more CCTV cameras should be introduced? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk

Opinion – p.6