A BID to crack down on post office raids by installing spy cameras has backing in East Lancashire.

The call for tighter security at post offices comes as staff become increasingly worried about the threat of violent raids.

Several post offices in East Lancashire have been hit by raiders this year and staff hope increased security will help stamp out the problem.

Sub-postmaster Ray Clayson will be supporting the call for the security cameras at a national conference next week.

Mr Clayson, who has run Shadsworth post office, in Ballantrae Road, Blackburn, for the past 12 years, said: "Cameras will act as a deterrent to potential raiders. People might not take a chance if they could be caught.

"It is a serious security measure that would benefit post office staff."

Mr Clayson will be representing 130 East Lancashire sub-postmasters at the conference of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters in Llandudno. He will be backing a motion for the installation of cameras at every sub-post office that has been raided.

An average of three sub-post offices a day are hit by raiders in this country.

Mr Clayson stressed the need for protecting post office staff from raiders.

"Raids are extremely traumatic for staff. I have a friend in Liverpool who was raided and he has been off work for months."

Security cameras are inevitable as the raids become more violent, according Mr Clayson, who said: "Looking back, post office once didn't have shutters, elaborate safes and alarms. All these have come as the raids have got nastier - CCTV is the next step."

Sergeant Alan Holt, Blackburn police crime prevention officer, welcomed tougher security measures in the battle to tackle crime.

However, he warned that raiders often used balaclavas and crash helmets, which could make identification difficult.

He added that Blackburn police had run a campaign encouraging people to remove crash helmets before entering banks, building societies and post offices.

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