SAFETY: Peter Wall and Pc Olan Jenkins check out the help point.

ANOTHER crime-cracking initiative has been officially launched on the streets of Eastleigh town centre with the introduction of panic buttons for pedestrians in peril.

The trailblazing scheme, which gives people direct access to the town's closed circuit television control room and the emergency services from six "help points," is believed to be the first of its kind in the South of England.

And the bright yellow emergency points are being seen as extra way of driving home the message that Eastleigh is a safe place to shop.

"Statistics show that Eastleigh has a crime rate just two thirds of the national average and crime has been reduced still further in the town since the introduction of CCTV," said borough councillor Peter Wall, who chairs the Eastleigh Town Centre Safety Partnership.

"The council, in partnership with the police and local businesses, is committed to reducing crime and the perception of crime in the town and the introduction of the help points is seen as another positive step towards achieving this."

The panic buttons on 1.6-metre high posts have been located close to the children's play area in the Leigh Road recreation ground, midway along the shopping streets of High Street and Market Street, near the bus station at the junction of Leigh Road, at the entrance to the Wells Place car park and at the pedestrian access to the multi-storey car park.

Swan Centre manager John Berry - a safety partnership member - said operation of the help points was simple.

"People who are concerned about their personal safety can press the red button and speak immediately to the CCTV operator who has direct links to the police.

"Each help point is located near a CCTV camera which will automatically focus on the caller."

The Eastleigh system has been installed for just £12,000 - thanks, mainly, to the fact that provision was made for them when the CCTV system was put in place some 18 months ago.

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