£10,000 raised from selling stolen goods seized from criminals will pay for more CCTV to be installed in Woodley town centre.

Conservatives in the area are hailing an upcoming CCTV installation project after funding was secured for the project through lobbying.

The news was celebrated as Matthew Barber, the re-elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Thames Valley visited Woodley on Monday, May 13.

He was welcomed to the town by councillor Pauline Jorgensen, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the new Earley and Woodley constituency.

Cllr Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) and Mr Barber discussed the new CCTV’s implementation as well as the possibility of police being able to use the town council’s CCTV network to better survey the area.

Cllr Jorgensen also raised the issue of crime, antisocial behaviour and drug dealing with Barber, given it is a major concern of residents in Earley and Woodley.

She welcomed the recruitment of new officers to Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the two pledged to continue to work together to address issues related to crime in the constituency going forward.

Cllr Jorgensen said: “It was fantastic to welcome Matthew to Woodley today hear first-hand the concrete plans he has to keep residents in Earley and Woodley safe.

“On the doorsteps, crime and antisocial behaviour is a major concern raised by residents.

“That’s why I lobbied Matthew to carry on delivering for residents through measures like recruiting more police officers locally.

“I’ll always stand up for residents in Earley and Woodley, and come the general election they will have the chance to back my plan to make our community a safer place to live.”

Matthew Barber, the Thames Valley PCC added: “The support for CCTV here in Woodley has come through taking cash from criminals.

“The money is provided through my Community Fund which raises cash from the sale of stolen goods and makes sure this money goes into cutting crime in the community.”

Of the £15,000 project, £10,000 will come from money taken from thieves, with £5,000 committed by TVP as part of the Chief Constable’s community fund, which was discussed at a Wokingham Borough Council budget meeting in February.

Cllr Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford, Ruscombe and Hurst), the borough council leader, welcomed the news at the time.

Meanwhile, cllr Greg Bello (Labour, Loddon) has accused the Conservatives of failing to tackle crime and will speak at a full meeting of Woodley Town Council on Thursday, May 22 where crime is set to be discussed.

The police commissioner’s office is in the process of selecting a supplier for the CCTV in Woodley. Once that process is completed, the CCTV will be installed.

Mr Barber and cllr Jorgensen also visited the site of a new police station in Whitley which will help to better serve the area with a more direct police presence.

Police are expected to move to the new station by the end of this year.