A five-month overview of the CCTV operation in Monmouth was given by Andy Mason, Monmouthshire County Council's project officer for anti-social behaviour, to town councillors at their meeting on Monday (7th October).

He told councillors there had been a definite trend downwards in the amount of reported crime following the installation of six cameras in the town.

There had been nine arrests, directly or indirectly attributable to CCTV, and 12 requests for footage had been made by police officers to help with on-going cases.

It had also helped in identifying two males involved in passing forged £50 notes in town which led to their arrest.

PC Mal John, crime and disorder reduction officer covering Abergavenny and Monmouth, added that the presence of cameras helped with "a very serious incident" outside Handyman House earlier this year.

He added that police were alerted by CCTV operators and were at the scene shortly after 3am before any members of the public came on the scene, which would have been "quite horrific for them."

The CCTV system, which covers the four towns of Monmouth, Abergavenny, Caldicot and Chepstow, has also helped with cases of anti-social behaviour in Caldicot, "where they have a particular problem," said Andy Mason.

"Following an incident with a shopping trolley where quite a lot of damage was done, stills from the CCTV camera were emailed to the schools liason officer who took them around to the school, where they were identified and the culprits were in the headteachers office before first break."

He thanked the town council for their faith in supporting the system which, coupled with the Storenet and Nitenet systems, has made a positive contribution to crime prevention within the town.