A CLOSED-circuit television system (CCTV) in part of north Durham played a key role in three arrests in a two-week period during November.

Durham Constabulary and members of the Derwentside Safety Partnership have praised the impact of the CCTV system, which was installed in trouble hotspots by Derwentside District Council.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg said: "The new generation of CCTV cameras provide excellent quality pictures that can be taken from up to 200m away.

"They have been used as evidence when criminals are brought to court."

He said that, in three instances, people were arrested for criminal damage to commercial premises.

In another instance during October, police spotted a man waving what appeared to be a gun. Officers were immediately sent out but it was established the man was only carrying a replica.

Chief Insp Hogg said the sitings of the cameras were chosen by local authorities and police using statistics to identify anti-social behaviour hotspots.

He said: "It has, as we have hoped, already begun to reassure members of the public and reduced fear of crime in areas where cameras have been installed.

"This fits in with the aims and objectives of our StreetSafe campaign, which is about tackling anti social behaviour, disorder and low level crime."

District council deputy leader Councillor Michael Malone said: "The police do an excellent job, working with limited resources, responding to calls from the public.

"However, on many occasions the incidents are over in seconds. Where CCTV footage is available as evidence, arrests can still be made."

Coun Malone said the council was convinced that the CCTV system, which is being expanded to eventually cover selected areas in all wards in the district, was successful.

"The system is based on the latest wireless technology, which takes advantage of the district council's renowned IT broadband network. The pan, tilt and zoom cameras provide high quality images both day and night and a zoom capacity to register incidents well beyond their immediate vicinity," he said.