Town centre's spy cameras help to make 3,000 arrests

The closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) system was installed by Darlington Borough Council in 1994.

The 40 cameras initially cost £750,000, but there has now been a total investment of £1.5m, and the number of cameras has risen to 91.

Thirteen cameras are positioned on the Firthmoor housing estate and in the Bank Top area, to provide residents with around-the-clock security surveillance.

This year, there will be even more investment in the scheme, with £120,000 being spent on six cameras for the Stanhope Park area, covering the Arts Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Stanhope Road and Duke Street.

A further £40,000 will be spent on three cameras at High Northgate, covering North Road from the Northgate roundabout to Morrison's supermarket.

All the cameras, which have the facility to zoom, pan and tilt, with colour pictures, are linked to the town hall's CCTV control room.

Darlington council leader Councillor John Williams said: "The ongoing success of our CCTV system has enabled us to extend the system considerably since it was first introduced.

"The vigilance of the team in the CCTV control room and the partnerships we have developed with the police and organisations such as Crimenet and Pubwatch have brought dividends.

"The cameras not only help to catch criminals, they are also an effective deterrent against crime."

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Macdonald, of Darlington police, paid tribute to CCTV staff.

He said: "The landmark of 3,000 arrests is a tribute to the professionalism and commitment of the staff that operate the CCTV system.

"It is also a powerful indication of what can be achieved through partnership working."

The cameras have almost wiped out crime in Darlington's town centre car parks.

In 1994 there were 374 incidents reported. Since then the figures have fallen dramatically. In 2000, the figure fell to 32, and last year there were fewer than 30 incidents