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HUNDREDS of CCTV cameras fixed on the people of Chelmsford are making life safer - say council bosses.

Figures released by Chelmsford Council show its CCTV operation has resulted in the arrest of 142 people, between April 2007 and March 2008.

Another 847 incidents have resulted in either arrests or police attendance, following the monitoring of cameras.

The council has disputed claims that massive investments in security cameras have failed to cut crime nationally.

It has been reported that top Met policeman Det Ch Insp Mick Neville, head of the Met's Visual Images, Identifications and Detections Office, said little thought was put into how CCTV was used.

There are currently 234 surveillance cameras across the borough, including 41 in Chelmsford town centre, 15 around Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre and 19 around the Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre.

Prestigious borough landmarks are also closely monitored, with 13 cameras watching Hylands House and nine cameras in place around Chelmsford Museum.

The cameras are watched from the 42 screens in the control centre's monitoring office.

Councillor Ian Grundy, who looks after the borough's technical services, said: "Chelmsford prides itself on being one of the safest places in the country to live.

"We have invested heavily in cutting edge technology that allows staff to work more effectively with our crime reduction partners. Chelmsford has one of the most modern, well equipped CCTV control centres in the country."

According to the council, statistics suggest that police community support officers working with the CCTV control centre have resulted in a 5 per cent reduction of crime in the Chelmsford police division since 2004.

Last year the council installed a number of improvements to the control centre, including technology that means staff can map out areas of criminal activity.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said CCTV footage had been used in the successful proesecution of several individuals.

He said: "CCTV is one of the fundamental investigative toools we use, following any crime on the streets or in a shop.

"We work very closely with council staff as it is a partnership approach, to improve the safety of people and identify perpertrators of crime."

8:00am Thursday 15th May 2008

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