PLANS for more CCTV cameras across Kirklees will have to meet strict guidelines.

Support from the police will be a key criterion in guiding decisions on installing CCTV security cameras in towns and villages in the area.

Clr Ann Raistrick, the council's Cabinet member responsible for safer communities, said: "There has been a significant growth in the number of CCTV cameras. There are now 135 across five town centres.

"There is also a continuous demand for additional CCTV from other towns and villages.

"Not all those demands can be met, so there needs to be sensible and practical criteria on which to base decisions.

"One of the over-riding criteria has to be whether requests for CCTV cameras for a particular area have the support of the local police commander.

"Discussions with the police indicate strong support when they have the ability to respond appropriately and quickly. "

Clr Raistrick said there was extra money proposed in the coming year's council budget to invest in extending CCTV, but all the criteria must be there to make sure such investment was effective.

She said: "While the police are highly supportive of the CCTV network, it is essential that when it is extended to other towns and village centres that the police are able to effectively respond to any major expansions of the system.

"It also needs emphasising that while CCTV cameras make an important contribution to community safety and deterring crime, they are just one of a number of ways of tackling town centre safety."

She said it was vital the cameras linked up with other town centre management schemes, such as street wardens, security staff and retail radio links.

CCTV cameras may not always be appropriate. In general, the police do not support the idea of having them in residential areas.

Clr Raistrick added: "Other criteria that will guide decisions include there being clearly identified funding to run any additional schemes."

There must also be clear evidence of need for the cameras in terms of crime and other incidents.

They must be able to be monitored 24 hours a day and they should meet high standards of quality, she said.

The cameras must be linked to police control rooms, and so form part of a partnership with other security initiatives, she added.