A MULTI-million-pound network of closed-circuit TV cameras in the New Forest has failed to have a noticeable impact on crime levels, it has been revealed.
A study of crime figures has shown that the four places where the cameras were installed have "not experienced a sustained or significant decrease in crime".
Yet police have claimed that the cameras are a success and play a key role in their investigations, providing them with evidence of crime and disorder.
The £1.2m camera network, largely funded with Home Office cash and £100,000 from New Forest District Council, was launched in July 2002 with much fanfare by Hampshire Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan.
A total of 39 CCTV cameras were installed in Totton, Lymington and Ringwood, with a control centre in Lyndhurst.
New Milton and Hythe, once dubbed "Dodge City" by police bosses, were excluded.
A report by the New Forest Community Safety Partnership, which operates the scheme, casts doubts on its effectiveness.
The report found that between July 2002 and July 2003: l There has been no sustained decrease in crime in Lymington, although the levels have risen more slowly than the Forest average.
l The low crime levels in Pennington were already decreasing before CCTV was installed and it was impossible to say whether the cameras had any impact. Crime then increased from the autumn of 2002, suggesting it was "unlikely" that there was any sustained impact.
l Crime in Ringwood followed the trend for the Forest with "no observable decrease from the time the cameras were introduced".
l Since the cameras were introduced in Totton, crime has at times increased at a greater rate than the Forest average and it "seems unlikely the cameras had an impact on crime".
The CCTV report will go to New Forest District Council's Crime and Disorder Review panel on Tuesday.
Insp Phil Winchester, of New Forest police, said: "The government set the safety partnership a target of reducing crime by 17.5 per cent by 2008.
"The partnership has so far achieved a 12 per cent reduction and is on course to meet the target.
"What we will be unable to ascertain is the contribution that CCTV has made to this."
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