WILMSLOW has reaffirmed the importance of continuing to support the use of CCTV in the town as a means of deterring criminals and keeping people safe.

It follows a recent review by a national surveillance watchdog Tony Porter, who warned that many local authorities including Cheshire East Council, were making it difficult for police to investigate crime.

Cheshire East Council announced in 2013, that it would be asking parish and town council’s to fund CCTV cameras in the towns in the borough as a method of saving money.

And while cameras in towns, including Knutsford, were left "unmonitored" and falling into a state of disrepair, Wilmslow Town Council, has heeded the call and dug deep for the second year running in 2015/2016 to provide £16,650, to ensure cameras were fully operational and monitored.

Wilmslow Town Council clerk Matthew Jackson told the Guardian: "The council has supplied funding over the past two years because of the consequences that other towns might be facing by failing to maintain them.

"Cheshire East had made it clear that should funding not be in place, that CCTV may not monitored and/or be replaced.

"And that is why the town council has supported it in Wilmslow, because it's important for the people of the town that CCTV cameras be retained."

Mr Porter told The Independent: "Most people recognise the utility of CCTV for supporting law enforcement. To degrade the capacity may have an impact on police. It may well be that they will find it increasingly difficult to acquire the images that will help them investigate crimes.

"I do think public authorities should be held to greater account. If that is some form of inspection and enforcement notice. I think that can be achieved with a fairly light touch."

Mr Porter, who is due to give the findings of a review into standards to the Home Secretary this autumn, has written to council chief executives to remind them of the law and code of practice.