**Power Surges Blamed for Unexpected Newport CCTV Outages, Sparking Traders’ Concerns**
A series of unexpected power surges has been identified as the primary cause behind a recent spate of malfunctions affecting Newport’s city centre CCTV coverage, according to Newport City Council officials. The disclosure comes after mounting criticism from local business owners, who have raised serious questions about the reliability of the city’s surveillance infrastructure.
The issue gained public attention when Councillor Matthew Evans, Leader of the Opposition, brought forward multiple complaints raised by traders operating in the heart of Newport. According to Cllr Evans, many retailers were dismayed to find that key CCTV cameras were either non-operational, not positioned correctly, or failing to record significant incidents of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
In his statement to the council, Cllr Evans remarked, “I have received numerous reports from city centre traders regarding the unreliability of the CCTV system—alleging that cameras have either been switched off, facing the wrong way, or simply not recording evidence when required.” He further explained that in several instances, police officers seeking footage to support ongoing investigations were left empty-handed due to malfunctioning cameras or blind spots in coverage.
Seeking clarity, Councillor Evans formally questioned members of the Cabinet responsible for community security about the truth of these allegations and pressed for reassurances about future preventative measures. “If the claims are accurate, what steps will be taken to address this situation?” he wrote. “Conversely, if the reports are unfounded, why do complaints persist at such frequency?”
Responding collectively, Cabinet Members Jason Hughes and Mark Spencer attributed the outages to a succession of power surges that had disrupted the city’s CCTV operations in recent weeks. “We have recently experienced some issues due to a number of power surges on the wider grid causing damage,” the councillors stated. They confirmed that the root problem has now been identified and largely resolved.
However, officials acknowledged that while most cameras have been brought back online following technical repairs, a handful remain offline pending the installation of a new cable connection. The council has pledged that this forthcoming upgrade will provide greater resilience against such faults and help ensure the consistent operation of the surveillance system.
Cllrs Hughes and Spencer also highlighted the diversity of the city’s monitoring apparatus, which includes both fixed-position cameras and remotely controllable units. This blend, they say, enables the council to adjust coverage dynamically in response to incidents or specific requests from law enforcement.
The incident has shone a spotlight on the challenges urban centres face as they seek to balance public safety with rapidly advancing technology, highlighting the reliance of critical infrastructure on reliable power supplies and robust maintenance routines. Newport, like many cities across the UK, depends on CCTV both as a deterrent and as a tool in aiding police investigations.
For local traders, however, the reassurance comes as something of a double-edged sword. While many welcome the council’s prompt identification of the issue and efforts to rectify it, questions remain over what can be done in the short term to bolster security until the full repair works are complete. Some business owners have told local media that they feel exposed and vulnerable, especially given reports of recent increases in shoplifting and late-night disorder.
Community leaders have urged anyone noticing ongoing problems with public CCTV to report them immediately, as the council moves to restore full surveillance capability. In the longer term, this episode serves as another reminder of the factors that can unexpectedly undermine city centre security—and the challenges authorities face in maintaining public trust.
The council has reiterated its commitment to keeping residents, businesses, and visitors safe, promising updates as the restoration of Newport’s CCTV system progresses. The story is a reminder for cities everywhere: as technology evolves and reliance on electronic security grows, so too do the risks from unforeseen technical failures.