Knife wielding robber caught on camera

Andrei Sonia Vidasinhas was caught on film as she attacked the 55-year-old woman in Bramlands Close, Battersea, in July last year.

At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 32-year-old Vidasinhas was given seven years for attempted robbery and 12 years for assault. Both sentences are to be served concurrently.

The detective who led the investigation DC Alex Ware said: "This dangerous individual was identified by a combination of forensics and CCTV footage."

The council's CCTV network has been repeatedly used by the Met to help secure convictions and to also gain intelligence and information about criminal activity in the borough.
 
The most up to date figures show that in 2010, the police used footage as evidence in 841 prosecutions - a 42 per cent increase on the previous year.   
 
The cameras have also played a vital role in helping the police track down those who took part in last summer's disturbances in Clapham Junction. So far more than 200 people have been arrested as a result of evidence gleaned from council-owned CCTV and also cameras operated by businesses.

Wandsworth's community safety spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: "The borough's camera network plays a major role in helping the police tackle crime in Wandsworth. The footage is often instrumental in identifying suspects and then securing convictions against them in court.

"Not only have the cameras been used to help solve crimes that have already been committed, but the live real-time footage they provide can also help police nip emerging problems in the bud."

The town hall operates more than 1,000 cameras across the borough, including around 700 on local housing estates. Others cover town centres, busy shopping areas and transport interchanges. These are monitored in the council's CCTV control room while police have an over-ride facility which means they can instantly take control of any camera should the need arise.