A total of 17 CCTV cameras are now live and recording throughout South Holland, with ten installed in Spalding and others put up in Crowland, Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge.

Two more are awaiting installation to give maximum coverage in what are called "hotspot" areas.

Evidence from the cameras has been downloaded and prepared as evidence on more than 40 occasions since the introduction of CCTV in the district.

Insp Tony Smith, of Spalding Police, said: "The installation of cameras is making a tremendous difference within the major towns of South Holland and no doubt is connected to the current reduction in crime and disorder."

Last month South Holland District Council crime reduction portfolio holder Coun Gary Taylor said he had been impressed with the success of CCTV in Spalding.

He said: "Using CRASH (Crime Reduction Action South Holland) radios alongside the CCTV cameras in Spalding has been really positive and I think it's going to help with crime reduction both now and in the future."

Coun Taylor added that he wants to see more cameras installed and more people volunteering to monitor them.

Insp Smith is also in favour of the scheme being extended and says there are a variety of ways of going about this.

The existing cameras were funded through grant money, parish councils, Spalding Special Expenses account and, in the case of one camera, money from an individual company.

An original report highlighted that Spalding should have 16 cameras to cover the town centre. The current cameras are monitored by 12 trained volunteers at Spalding police station.

Insp Smith said coverage can be extended through further grant funding, money from planning gain or private companies.

He added that other issues need to be considered such as the ongoing maintenance costs of keeping the equipment up and running and the fact that more volunteers will be needed or maybe in the future a private management company taking on this task.

l What do you think? Is CCTV coverage in Spalding a good thing? Should the scheme be extended? E-mail nick.woodhead @jpress.co.uk