HIGH-rise tower blocks in Oxford are being monitored by CCTV surveillance cameras in a bid to end years of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

The city council has installed more than £110,000 of CCTV equipment at Evenlode and Windrush towers, in Blackbird Leys, and at Plowman Tower, in Marston, to get to grips with a catalogue of problems.

Camera operators will monitor the blocks’ lifts and entrances round the clock at St Aldate’s police station and will be able to summon officers to deal with incidents within minutes.

The boost to security follows a six-month trial last year, where six cameras were fitted at Foresters Tower, in Wood Farm, after repeated requests by residents for action to end antisocial behaviour.

Joe McManners, the council’s executive member for housing, said: “The problems have been going on for about 10 years. They’re pretty significant, otherwise we wouldn’t have taken these steps.

“When it’s been bad, people have been talking about it happening every night, especially Friday and Saturday night.

“You often get groups of kids smoking, taking drugs, buzzing buzzers, vandalism and drinking.”

Seven cameras have been installed at Evenlode Tower, seven in Windrush Tower and six in Plowman Tower. They are positioned inside lifts and around the entrances.

An extra camera has been attached at Evenlode Tower to monitor shops in nearby Blackbird Leys Road, an antisocial behaviour hotspot.

Councillors yet to decide whether to install CCTV at Hockmore Tower, in Cowley, because of its position above Templars Square shopping centre.

Michael Nyenze, 30, has lived at Windrush Tower for the past year with his wife Emily and two children.

He said: “We haven’t had too many problems, but think it’s a good idea, because it will help stop people who don’t live here from causing trouble.

“When they see the CCTV cameras, they know someone is keeping an eye on them.”

Sue Webb, 34, of Windrush Tower, said: “I think it’s good – as long as they do what they’re supposed to do.”

Virginia Magno, 29, of Evenlode Tower, added: “It will make me feel safer.”

The five tower blocks, which were built in the mid-1960s, provide homes for 347 families.

Police say the cameras help to reduce crime – there are already 51 in use across Oxford.

Insp Andy Storey, in charge of policing Blackbird Leys, said: “CCTV is an invaluable tool in fighting crime.

“There were some reports a while back about drug dealing in the foyer of Evenlode Tower, so I’m hoping with the cameras that will go.”

But not everyone is pleased about the use of CCTV. Former councillor Claire Kent, who received scores of complaints about antisocial behaviour at Foresters Tower, said: “I do believe [the number of problems] are on the increase again, because the cameras only cover the lifts and entrances and not the floors. What they really need is a concierge.”

Juan Martin, 36, of Evenlode Tower added: “I think that it’s an intrusion on people’s liberties, because you’re being recorded all the time when you enter and leave your own home.”

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk