COUNCILLORS may increase monitoring of CCTV cameras in Hartlepool, or employ neighbourhood wardens to stamp out minor crimes.

There are 39 CCTV cameras in Hartlepool, which are continuously videoed and monitored by council staff.

Hartlepool borough councillors want to either increase monitoring or employ wardens to allow more minor matters such as littering and dog fouling to be picked up.

It has been suggested that CCTV cameras may cause problems of identifying individuals and some of the crimes may be too minor for the Crown Prosecution Service to proceed with.

A council spokesman said: "The advantage of actually catching someone doing the misdemeanour is that either a fine is levied on the spot or the issue is discussed and the individual agrees to modify his or her behaviour, so stopping the incident occurring again.

"Members may wish to consider the appointment of neighbourhood wardens rather than the additional monitoring of cameras."

It has been estimated that it would cost £1.38m to view each CCTV camera 24-hours-a-day because of the need for more staff and accommodation.

An alternative would be to employ one person to view a screen covering four cameras but this would still cost thousands of pounds.

Councillors will consider the options in the coming weeks.