VOLUNTEERS are needed to help monitor the long-awaited Laun­ceston Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system which is progressing well to­w­ards being up and runn­ing, Laun­ceston Town Council members were told at their meeting on October 20. The aim is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the town.

PC Matt Kingdon — in answer to a question from Cllr Mary Williams, said the CCTV partnership now had a well-established committee with the Mayor, Cllr Paul O'Brien (a former police officer) as chairman.

The first meeting had been positive and was driving the project forward. A room was ready at Launceston Police Station and the infrastructure in place for monitoring purposes and all ready for the infrastructure in the town itself.

The only sticking point, explained PC Kingdon, was the historic nature of the town which meant that although they did not need planning permission they did need Conservation Area Consent and this had to be applied for and the exact location (for the cameras) had to be identified for the people installing the equipment.

He added: "It is all moving forward and working really well. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it is steadily getting brighter."

Sgt Aaron Ward said they already had some volunteers to do the monitoring but any others who would like to be involved should contact the police. "The more we have, the better it will be."