A NEW state-of-the -art £2.5million crime-fighting CCTV scheme is being launched today. (30)

It will see 53 Big Brother cameras launched across Cumbria with 12 in Barrow.

Borough council leader Dave Pidduck said it was great news for the town exclusively revealing that that despite low crime rates in Dalton and Ulverston they would be helping to fund CCTV there in the near future.

The Barrow cameras will be sited at Duke Street Surgery, Cornwallis Street Car Park, Duke Street and Buccleugh Street junction, Lloyds Bank, Crellin Street and on the corner of Dalton Road and Cavendish Street. There will be CCTV at the bottom of Dalton Road at the Abbey Road and Hartington Street junction as well as at  Debenhams, Portland Road, the corner of Dalkeith Street and Buccleugh Street, the junction of Abbey Road and Rawlinson Street and Hindpool Retail Park and Hindpool Road. The final two cameras will be at Craven House, on Michealson Road Bridge and Hollywood Park.

The project has been commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes in conjunction with the six local district councils and implemented by the force.

The new system will see cameras in Carlisle, Workington, Kendal, Whitehaven and Penrith with future provision to extend if required. 

The system will be monitored by a dedicated team within the Communications Centre at Police HQ to maximise the instant support to operational policing both pro-actively and reactively. 

The contract is worth £2.5million over the next seven years.

Councillor Pidduck said: "Obviously we are very supportive of CCTV in the borough. When the commissioner came to see us it was one of the first items on our agenda and he was keen to upgrade our CCTV.

"Obviously we have this right from the word go. It's taken a while to get it sorted out with six councils and the technology involved but it's here now.

"Obviously it will deal with crime levels and save court time because people can't say it wasn't them because it will have been caught on camera.

"It can also help out retailers if someone dashes out of the shop after stealing something. Also, if someone gies missing CCTV can be useful in helping trace their movements and find them.

"It's a very useful tool.

Dalton and Ulverston have such low levels of crime but we have said we want CCTV in both towns and we will help pay for that so that will happen in the future."

Mr Rhodes added: “In every sense this is an innovative scheme and is the first of its type in the country.

“CCTV will play a vital role in delivering a safe and secure environment for people who live, work and visit Cumbria. At the same time CCTV will help in reducing anti- social behaviour, crime and disorder as well as providing proactive support for the business community."

Cumbria Constabulary, Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: “CCTV is one of a number of important tools we can use to help solve crime and keep our local communities safe.

 "The new system will provide consistent and improved CCTV coverage across Cumbria. CCTV acts as a deterrent for would-be criminals, helps track offenders and gather evidence."