Closed circuit television cameras in Truro have had a major effect on crime and anti-social behaviour over the past 12 months.

More than 1,115 incidents were reported in the city along with those in Falmouth and Penryn, with 978 people arrested or warned, but there was a marked decrease in crime.

Shoplifting in Truro went down by 19 per cent, cheque and credit card fraud by 25 per cent and assaults by 3.9 per cent. Police Constable David Harris, police CCTV liaison officer, said the results had been largely due to a better working relationship with the police, community support officers, Shopwatch and the Pub and Club watch. The effectiveness of Carrick CCTV had a major impact on crime and antisocial behaviour in 2003, he said in the annual report to the CCTV Stakeholders Group.

In Falmouth shoplifting went down by 40 per cent and assaults 3.7 per cent. People arrested or warned by the police with CCTV assistance totalled 304.

The cameras in Penryn had proved to be a valuable asset to the police in identifying those responsible for anti-social behaviour, said PC Harris. Besides the reporting of antisocial behaviour to the police, CCTV had been responsible in the detection of offences of drug abuse, criminal damage and drunkenness.

There had also been a noticeable decrease in the number of complaints of antisocial behaviour in Penryn since the installation of the CCTV cameras.

Coun Tony Husband, leader of Carrick district council, said: "It has been noticeable that CCTV operators are becoming more experienced and confident, which has led to a more proactive approach by the operators in identifying incidents at an early stage, reporting it to the police and recording the incident.

"In fact, a number of good work reports have been received from the police praising the work of a number of the operators."

On-going training has been given to the operators covering subjects of police evidence, data protection, human rights as well as knowledge checks of the CCTV system and its operation.

Over the past year 162 CCTV evidence tapes were provided to the police for investigation and court purposes. In most cases guilty pleas have been received due to CCTV evidence.

CCTV cameras in all three towns are monitored at a central control in Truro.