SPIES IN THE SKY ARRIVE (From Warrington Guardian)

SPIES IN THE SKY ARRIVE

HI-TECH spy in the sky surveillance cameras are due to begin scanning the streets of Congleton and Alsager this month.

The closed circuit cameras have been put up in the town centres as part of a £160,000 borough council initiative to cut crime and make people feel safer.

Congleton boasts two cameras, at either end of the pedestrian walkway, which will monitor the street scene 24 hours a day.

They are among 10 cameras, including two in Alsager, which are due to come into operation across the borough in the next few weeks after final adjustments have been carried out.

The cameras are mounted on eight-metre high columns, and will be able to pan, tilt and zoom, as well as move through 360 degrees.

Borough community safety officer Tony Potts said he hoped the cameras would help in the fight against a whole range of crime-related issues including criminal damage, theft, burglaries and civil disorder.

He believed they would be welcomed by local people, based on the strong level of support for them in a crime survey, and hoped they would also encourage more people to use their town centres by promoting a ''feel good'' factor.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.