TRIALS of a high-tech CCTV system for Teignmouth town centre have been given the go-ahead by the town council.
Four cameras using the latest digital broadband technology, costing less than £3,000, will be introduced shortly, perhaps within two to three weeks.
The cameras will meet police advisory specifications, and be able to pan 360 degrees, tilt and zoom up to 18x enlargement, and follow action through an area.
An operator in the new Teignbridge district control room in Newton Abbot will monitor them, but authorised users will also be able to access the system via a password.
Insp Jon Perry, police sector commander for Teignmouth and Dawlish, welcomed it as 'a major step forward' for the town.
'The benefits of CCTV are preventative, and will also assist us in finding offenders,' he said. 'The cameras will be targeted at certain points of the town, and since they can be used in real time they will help to direct our patrols.'
He added that although Teignmouth and Dawlish were the only sizeable towns in the district without CCTV, this had worked to their advantage as they were now able to start with the cheaper and more flexible broadband system.
Cllr Dick Petherick said that it was 'a very good idea', but it should be seen 'as an aid and not a substitute for police officers', a point backed by deputy mayor Cllr Geoff Bladon.
Insp Perry said that the police force in Teignmouth would be up to full strength by the beginning of the summer holidays.