CREDITON High Street is a safer place in which to live, work and visit because of it's CCTV system, says Crediton Police Community Support Officer Dave Pilling.

The town's closed circuit television system was significantly enhanced to a three camera digital network some years ago, complete with a digital monitoring system, but it was only this year that the system became fully operational to a sufficient standard.

Since then it has proved its worth.

PCSO Pilling continued: "The town CCTV system is a great asset to have available to us in the fight against crime.

"It not only assists us in the prevention and detection of crime but also has a positive effect on fear of crime.

"Honest law abiding members of the public see the cameras in town and feel safer knowing that someone is watching over them."

He added: "The CCTV has assisted us in several recent investigations, and because of the quality of the images as evidence has directly lead to arrests and prosecutions being made.

"Crediton High Street is certainly a safer place for people to live, work and visit because of the CCTV being there."

The installation of the system and its operation is the result of partnership working by Mid Devon Community Safety Partnership, Creedy Local Action Group (CLAG); Crediton Town Council; Devon and Cornwall Constabulary; Mid Devon District Council and Crediton Area Marketing and Management (CAMM), Crediton Chamber of Commerce.

The LAG is itself a partnership of organisations from the voluntary, commercial and statutory sectors.

The Chamber of Commerce operated a single unmonitored CCTV camera in Crediton High Street, together with a VCR tape recording system, for some years.

After this it was updated but there were some problems in estabishing the new system to a sufficient standard but now achieved with the new system, results are forthcoming.

Crediton Town Council and CLAG have played the leading roles in the provision of the CCTV system.

The new system is owned by Crediton Town Council, but managed and operated on its behalf by Mid Devon District Council, through its licensing and community safety department.

The Town Council's contribution to managing the scheme is significant at £3,000 per year.

The equipment was purchased with funds from a large grant from central government.

Co-chair of Crediton Chamber of Commerce and long-serving member of CAMM, Dimitri Coryton, said: "The fully operational CCTV system brings added security to the High Street and centre of Crediton.

"It is a successful example of the private and public sectors working together in partnership."

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, added: "I am so pleased that the system is at last bringing rewards and helping to keep down crime in Crediton."

Tom Jones, a CCTV specialist in the licensing department at Mid Devon District Council, added: "We have tried to take the limited resources available and target them so that we make the best use of the cameras.

"We can target the cameras on events and locations as required."

Julia Ryder, Mid Devon's community safety officer, said: This is a fine example of partnership working at its best."

Possible expansion of the scheme is something that is not currently being considered by the Town Council or, it is believed by Mid Devon District Council, but it is understood it could be something that might be considered if there was a clear and demonstrable evidence of need.