Fights, camera, action

The young men rolled up a 10 note, cut the white powder and snorted. Their movements were furtive - but not sneaky enough to elude the CCTV cameras. Film was rolling at the St Aldates Police Station and officers were dispatched, making three arrests.

As Closed Circuit TV celebrates its first year in Oxford, research shows the public is appreciative and feels more protected. "Oxford is seen as a safe place in which to work, shop or spend leisure time," explains the Oxford Brookes University report. "Some 67 per cent feel safer as a result of CCTV and 76 per cent called for the scheme's coverage to be extended."

Seventeen cameras already scan the downtown area. Five are housed in black globes, hung on wrought-iron brackets to preserve the Gothic splendour. Most swivel and scope openly from the sides of buildings. CCTV directly resulted in 320 arrests last year. More importantly, crimes have been prevented, points out Det Con David White, the system's manager.

"Some people fear being a victim. We want to transfer that fear to the offender, make it the fear of being caught. Now that cameras are there, perhaps people will consider crime more carefully."

The scheme is run jointly by Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police. The council has contributed 750,000 over six years, the police 400,000 and private businesses have paid 100,000.

However, that 1.2m only covered start-up costs. The system still needs to be maintained and run, salaries paid. A Home Office grant may relieve the stress - and purchase three new cameras for Park End and Worcester Streets.

"We recognise that CCTV is an expensive commodity. The cameras are very effective, but not a magic solution. They work well in conjunction with the police and other activities. "We have five objectives: to reduce, deter and detect crime, make use of scarce police resources and ensure a safer environment."

The camera lenses capture criminals, but can aid honest citizens in distress as well. "CCTV cameras are not just about crime," DC White points out. "They help when people become ill, and find missing persons.

"We do not collect evidence for traffic offences. Mostly we deal with begging or anti-social behaviour such as assaults, drunkenness, theft and shoplifting. Obviously we can't see inside shops, but we can be the eyes, ears and mouth of their security. We can track suspects from shop to shop and warn other businesses."

Operators can also link with other CCTV systems - in the shopping centres and railway station - to hunt down offenders. Recently, this resulted in a fine candid camera moment: "A man was chased out of HMV and legged it up Broad Street. He'd stolen so much, he couldn't carry it all and was dropping stuff everywhere," DC White laughs.

The zoom lens also comes in handy. "A victim of assault identified the offender. When the police went to pick him up, he discretely dropped the weapon, an ash tray. Even though it was dark - and the object small - the CCTV operator noticed and the evidence was recovered." Of course, the cameras themselves provide pretty weighty proof. "It's very powerful evidence," he says. "We've heard a lot of comments from court. It helps to ensure a true picture of events."

DC White is confident that CCTV prevents crime, rather than just chasing crooks to the suburban fringe. The research to determine this is complicated, and has not been undertaken for Oxford. Yet he says the cameras mainly inhibit urban crimes, which don't occur elsewhere.

Civil liberties are the other concern, which keeps CCTV from catching on in America. DC White - and his council counterpart Marcus Lapthorn, the city centre manager - want to reassure the public. They dismiss "this Big Brother, Spy in the Sky" stuff as nonsense.

"The notion of being watched every minute of the day is alarming, but people recognize the benefits. Anyway, we're not stock-piling film for Police, Action, Cameras," he jokes.

"We have had no complaints or inquiries about the scheme. We value people's privacy and civil liberties. I'm passionate about the integrity of the system."

Elaborate security, training, inspections and codes of practice exists to protect the public. "Operators are only allowed to zoom in under certain circumstances."

Oxford Police Area Commander, Supt Dave McWhirter, says CCTV has been well-received. "I believe people realise the cameras are being used constructively to tackle crime and the fear of crime. "However, there is still more work to do to ensure people feel even safer in the city centre and we will not become complacent."

Oxford is not alone in enthusiasm for CCTV. Bicester, Kidlington, Banbury, Abingdon and Wantage all praise the system. Meanwhile, Witney has been pushing hard for CCTV coverage, but needs 250,000 to set up the system and a further 50,000 a year to run it. Councillors are making another bid for funding.

The Government should answer by the end of this month, but that's too late for one town centre optician. The AJ and BE Pitman windows have been smashed four times - in the last year. "We are not alone in suffering such damage. A walk through town after a riotous weekend proves that," says Barbara Pitman. "We are bearing the costs of the lack of CCTV. It will not cure unacceptable behaviour in Witney, but it will considerably reduce it."

She speaks from experience, as the Pitman's Kidlington shop - already covered by cameras - has remained safe.

Witney Police support the push for CCTV and have offered to house the monitoring equipment. Inspector John Fox says: "CCTV is ideal for the type of criminal damage experienced by the Pitmans, as we get evidence we can use in court to show exactly what happened."

Florists Jim and Rosa Ashby have joined the cry for coverage. Hooligans have broken the windows of their shop, Rosa Flora, four times in two-and-a-half years.

Wallingford is also demanding cameras, after a rise in thefts last autumn.