Number Plate Cameras in North Cornwall Repeatedly Vandalised
Why the Cameras Between St Merryn and Trekenning Matter
If you drive the quiet lanes between St Merryn and Trekenning, you may have noticed the automatic number plate recognition cameras mounted along the rural roads. Over recent months, several of these devices have been smashed, damaged or taken altogether, and the pattern has become hard to ignore. For those of us who live out here, the cameras are part of a wider effort to tackle rural crime, which includes theft of farm machinery, fuel, tools and livestock. Many properties in these parishes are miles from the nearest neighbour, so a camera that logs vehicles passing in and out can be a useful tool for officers investigating a burglary or a stolen van.
What often surprises people is that these cameras are not designed to catch speeding drivers. Police have been clear that they cannot be used for speed enforcement and are not linked to that work. Their job is to help identify vehicles connected to offences in the countryside, and to give residents a bit more reassurance after dark. Whoever is damaging them is therefore undermining a crime-prevention tool, not a traffic one. For a community already dealing with isolated thefts, losing that protection is a real setback, and it is worth remembering the people most affected are the ones who rely on it most.
The Cost to Taxpayers and Local Organisations
Every damaged or stolen camera has to be replaced, and that money comes from public funds. Devon and Cornwall Police have stressed that the cost is significant, and the bill ultimately lands with taxpayers across the county, including the families and small businesses in our villages who already pay for policing through their council tax and national contributions. Each replacement also takes officers and technicians away from other work, from installation to maintenance, which slows down the response to other local problems.
The impact extends beyond the police. Farmers, rural business owners and village community groups who have worked with local officers on neighbourhood watch schemes now face the frustration of seeing their investment in safety wiped out. Many have spent years building trust in these systems, and repeated damage makes people wonder whether it is worth reporting suspicious activity at all. That is exactly the wrong message to send. Tourism businesses along the coast also depend on visitors feeling safe when they drive to and from the area, so a reputation for lawlessness on country roads is bad for everyone, not just those who live here full time.
What Residents Can Do and What to Watch Next
The most useful thing residents can do is report anything suspicious. If you see someone tampering with a camera, or a vehicle lingering near one at odd hours, note the time, location and registration if you can safely do so. Call 101 or use the Devon and Cornwall Police website, quoting reference 50260134413 for this case. If a crime is happening right now, always call 999 first. Share the reference with neighbours too, as they may have seen something that makes sense only when put together with other reports.
If you are planning to go to Newquay this summer, whether for a morning surf at Fistral Beach or a walk along the cliffs with the dog, do bear in mind that many of the quieter routes you might take are covered by these cameras. Plenty of visitors book a dog-friendly accommodation base out this way precisely for the open countryside, and we want them to feel welcome and safe. Keep an eye on local updates over the coming weeks to see whether police make an arrest or launch a wider appeal. Community meetings and parish newsletters are often the best places to hear first.
Source: Someone keeps attacking number plate cameras that AREN’T for speeding
