CLOSED circuit TV cameras in Accrington town centre have slashed the cost of reported crime by more than £500,000.

In its first full year of operation, the CCTV system helped in the arrest of 332 people, Hyndburn economic development board was told.

The cost of reported crime fell from £666,000 in 1995 to £147,000 in 1996, a drop of around 78 per cent.

Now the Government is to be lobbied for cash to help keep the cameras rolling.

Head of strategic development, John Tilley, said CCTV has been a financial success for the government in reducing policing costs and prosecution costs because of the number of convictions by guilty pleas due to video evidence.

But he sounded a warning that there will come a time when the whole cost of maintaining and operating the system will fall on the council's shoulders, offset hopefully by contributions from the private sector and others who have benefited. Councillors agreed to approach the Association of District Councils to lobby the Government to bring CCTV systems into mainstream police funding rather than rely on council contributions in the future.

Committee chairman, Councillor Bernard Dawson, said: "It is absolutely essential we carry this on and there is an argument there should be police funding as well through increased resources."

Work on a £100,000 extension to the town centre CCTV system is expected to begin in the next few weeks and be completed before Christmas.

The extension will put one camera each in Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle and Rishton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.