CCTV that helped solve Leigh murder brings £500k cash boost for security systems

Wigan Council have put in almost £500,000 into this security system which was an important factor in catching the killers of Scott Anderton last year.

On March 25, 2021, the 33-year-old was lured to the canalside in Leigh by three callous teenagers who would go on to stab him 35 times before chucking him into the water to die.

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CCTV footage of the three boys leading Scott Anderton to the canal (Image: GMP)

Video footage, which formed part of Greater Manchester Police’s investigation, showed Liam Bailey, 19, Harry Maher, 16, and Liam O’Brien, 17, leading Mr Anderton to a secluded stretch of the canal, off King Street.

The trio were all jailed for their roles in the brutal killing after a five week trial at Manchester Crown Court in November 2021.

Bailey, of Diamond Street, Leigh, was sentenced to life in custody with a minimum term of 23 years and four months. Maher, of Green Lane, Standish, was also jailed for life and must serve at least 16 years before he is eligible for parole.

O’Brien, of Schofield Street, Leigh, was ordered to serve 10 years in prison.

Cllr Kevin Anderson (Image: Wigan Council)

For Coun Kevin Anderson, portfolio holder for Police, Crime and Civil Contingencies, this CCTV funding commitment is a ‘personal victory’. The funding will go towards increasing the number of cameras and improving the imagery.

“We hope with the investment it makes people feel safer,” Coun Anderson said.

“For me the murder stuck in my mind to show the importance of good CCTV and how it can help – and we got the convictions at Manchester Crown Court as a result.

“CCTV acts as more of a deterrent and a warning for those doing things against the law – we’ve had a difficult period of time with the pandemic.

"There seems to have been a rise in terms of aggressive behaviour and letting off steam and that can boil over to something worse.”

The new CCTV systems will also help the council tackle fly tippers (Image: Steve Atherton)

Since 2019, there have been 118 extra CCTV cameras installed across the borough, with 52 of those coming to Leigh.

The council also issued 31 Rapid Deployment Cameras in this time to support teams fighting antisocial behaviour and fly tipping.

“Our CCTV network has undergone a major expansion as part of our multi-agency approach to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour across Wigan Borough,” Coun Anderson continued.

“Most recently the council invested almost £500,000 into our CCTV network [...] with state-of-the-art CCTV cameras also been placed at well-known fly tip hotspots."

"This investment is in addition to many great initiatives being overseen by the Place and Community Safety Partnership, which aims to ensure Wigan Borough is a safe place to live and work for us all.”