I AM about to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner since the CCTV cameras operated by Darlington Borough Council, with the possible exception of those in the car parks, do not comply with the national Code of Practice in that, for example, there are no "zone signs", and are therefore illegal.

I have asked the council to close down the CCTV cameras not in the car parks until they comply with the national Code of Practice made under statutory authority. The council has not replied to my request.

The council does not have any power to make its own Code of Practice and, as such, it is "not worth the paper that it is written on". If, as I say, the CCTV cameras outside car parks are illegal, then all images taken by those cameras must be destroyed.

Now, at least, we know who "watches the watchers".

John W Antill, Darlington.