CCTV Schemes 'Cost [Pounds Sterling]400m but Do Little to Fight Crime'

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Byline: DAVID TAYLOR

BRITAIN'S streets are now watched by about 40,000 publicly funded CCTV cameras costing more than pound sterling400 million - but a new study today reveals there is little scientific evidence to show they cut crime.

The analysis from criminal justice charity Nacro discloses that unpublished Home Office research found CCTV had only a "very small" impact on reducing offending. And the study says there is evidence that the money would be better used to improve street lighting, which has been shown to cut crime by 20 per cent.

Cameras had no measurable success in cutting crime on public transport and a "very small" impact in city centres and inner city estates. But they did seem to help reduce crime significantly in car parks.

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