Shipley's spy-in-the-sky cameras have helped reduce people's fear of town centre crime.

Figures show the number of shop break-ins, assaults and car thefts has fallen since the CCTV system was launched in June, 1998.

But other forms of crime including theft from the person have increased despite the introduction of the five cameras in Market Square, Wellcroft, Fox Corner and Westgate.

The first evaluation of the system, carried out by independent consultant Inter Force Assistance, also details a number of incidents where CCTV has played a vital role in helping the police.

The report shows a 5.4 per cent drop in non-domestic break-ins, from 111 to 105, in central Shipley - some of which is not covered by CCTV - during the year following the cameras' introduction compared to the previous one.

That compares to a 63.5 per cent increase in Pudsey, which does not have CCTV cameras and was used as a control by the consultants.

Other figures show 5.3 and 11.5 per cent drops in the number of assaults and vehicle thefts respectively compared to rises of 13.5 and 184 per cent in Pudsey.

But the statistics also show an increase from 14 to 42 in the number of thefts from person in Shipley centre.

More than half those taking part in a survey said CCTV had made a difference to concerns about crime with 41.6 per cent saying they avoided the town centre because of crime compared to 62.5 per cent before CCTV.

The evaluation details a number of incidents where CCTV has been used for everything from corroborating a robbery allegation and identifying a motorist alleged to have sexually assaulted two teenage girls.

Councillor Tony Miller, chairman of the Shipley Town Centre Development Partnership, said: "CCTV isn't going to stop crime on it's own - it's just one tool in the fight against crime but is there to assist the police."

Market Square newsagent and Bradford Chamber of Trade president Eric Hudson said: "CCTV has reduced crime and helped make people feel safer."

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