THE camera team which operates CCTV in Kirklees town centres has been given an award by the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board.

The team has won the category of Partnership of the Year for the best example of joint working across the justice system.

Kirklees was the only local authority to receive an award.

The other award-winners were Crimestoppers; Leeds Approved Premises Shared Care Scheme; Domestic Violence Inter-Agency Group; the Customs Service Regional Confiscation Team; and the Police Regional Asset Recovery Team.

Kirklees Council’s CCTV control room has been manned round the clock since it opened in May 1997.

It now covers Huddersfield town centre, Brackenhall, Honley, Holmfirth, Dewsbury, Batley, Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.

There are more than 150 cameras in the scheme which have so far recorded more than 68,000 incidents including 18,000 arrests.

The system can also be used to get assistance for people identified by the control room as being in need of help.