Three-and-a-half years ago the cameras in Brighouse were replaced with upgraded models called ‘Metal Mici’ and during my visit to the CCTV control centre, which I cannot identify for security reasons, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the images.

The seven cameras are in place to monitor the town’s main streets and the aim to crack down on troublemakers and make the town centre safe and secure is still the same as it was when CCTV was first installed in the area.

Some people say CCTV never seems to get results – but figures from July to December last year indicate that the 47 cameras throughout Calderdale, including the seven in Brighouse, have helped with 192 arrests and 570 assists (aiding the police to gather evidence or trace missing people).

Traders, councillors and the police all campaigned to install cameras in the town centre to put an end to vandalism and anti-social behaviour in 2005 and about 18 months ago the system, which used to operate from Calderdale College in Halifax, was improved.

CCTV manager Peter Woodhouse said he had travelled the country with project manager Nick Stevenson looking at the different systems available and 12 months ago the new control room was launched.

“We have had some good results in gathering information for town centre burglaries, people who have committed damage in the town centre, graffiti and theft,” said Mr Woodhouse.

The control centre works closely with other organisations such as West Yorkshire Police, Metro and the Calderdale Primary Care Trust.

Brighouse Shopwatch members have also applied for a direct link with the control room so they can raise the alarm if there is trouble in the town centre. If the new link is approved it will mean cameras can be used to zoom in on the troublemakers.

Mr Woodhouse said CCTV was not just about crime detection but also about crime prevention and he was keen to see a radio link with Brighouse Shopwatch. “The more support we get from businesses in Brighouse the better the system will work.”

He said the Street Angels and street wardens in Halifax town centre also worked extremely well with the control centre.

The CCTV images are kept for about a month unless they are needed by police for evidence. A police officer is often based at the centre to filter through the footage left for them or clips which have been requested by other officers.

PC John Palfreyman, Calderdale divisions CCTV liaison officer, said: “Brighouse is quite fortunate because the cameras are good and the town centre lends itself well to CCTV. The Brighouse cameras are the best we have, for location and quality, in Calderdale.”

He said because the images were so good they often did not need to be published on the West Yorkshire Police website ‘Caught On Camera’, which has now been made public to identify people wanted by police.