Work on installing Newtown's CCTV system has begun in a move which has been welcomed by local AM, Russell George.
The Montgomeryshire Assembly Member has been an advocate of such a system and has been disappointed with the delays which have prevented its installation.
However, Mr George has now received confirmation that Baydale Control Systems Ltd have recently begun the work to install a total of seven police-managed cameras in Newtown Town Centre and that this work should be completed by 29th March with the cameras becoming operational soon after.
This is part of a wider project by Dyfed-Powys Police to install over 120 cameras in 17 towns across the police force area of Powys, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
Commenting, Mr George said:
"We have not had sufficient CCTV in Newtown, so I am pleased that the new high-definition CCTV system for the town is now being installed and should be completed by the end of this month.
" I'm disappointed by delays due to unexpected problems relating to the ownership of buildings which were earmarked for use as part of this programme and the CCTV programme has now been redesigned. The positioning of cameras is clearly an operational matter for the Police, but I’m aware that a number of location suggestions had been made, and I hope that these suggestions have been taken into account.
"I hope that this news will also be welcomed by residents and businesses following a number of incidences of anti-social behaviour, assaults, burglaries and other crimes in the town.
"As a result of the new system, I hope that we will see a reduction in these incidences and that it will assist the police in protecting the public from anti-social behaviour and crime.
“I’m due to meet the Chief Inspector for Powys Operations soon to discuss the new system and wider matters.”