Low crime rates could be responsible for the loss of a £250,000 bid to extend a town's security camera system.

The Vale of White Horse District Council and Thames Valley Police asked the Home Office for cash to extend a multi-million pound scheme in Abingdon.

Councillors want to introduce CCTV in the Caldecott area, the Charter, West St Helen Street and Rye Farm car parks.

No specific reason was given by the Home Office for turning down Abingdon's bid. Now the Vale is demanding a detailed explanation. Bill Jones, the Vale's community safety officer, said he feared the bid failed because there may not be enough crime in Abingdon for the Home Office to consider granting cash. He said: "I have asked if they are using criteria that a number of crimes are needed before the Home Office considers granting a bid.

"I think that's what the agenda is - but they are not saying so.

"When the Home Office set up a burglary initiative last year, they used similar criteria. The Vale's burglary rates were so low, it was pointless applying. "We are never going to win a bid where the crime rate comes into play."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The crime rates in each area were considered as part of the overall process. But the main consideration was that the applicant could demonstrate that their bid would directly reduce crime."

Now the bid has failed, businesses are being urged to sponsor the CCTV scheme. Since its introduction, crime rates have fallen in Abingdon.

CCTV currently costs £107,000 to operate in Abingdon and Wantage town centres. Local businesses have funded about £36,000 of the annual running costs. The Vale provides £71,000 a year.

Story date: Thursday 28 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.