EAGLE-eyed council chiefs cast their eyes over south Buckinghamshire at the official opening of a new CCTV control room.

Wycombe District Council unveiled its new £252,000 control room yesterday following a complete overhaul of the authority's ageing analogue system.

The centre boasts state-of-the-art digital recording equipment and a host of flat screen monitors, which pulls in live footage from the 228 cameras across the area and neighbouring Chiltern and south Bucks districts.

The council says the new hi-tech control room cuts annual energy consumption by 15 per cent, with a further yearly charge for line rental slashed by 30 per cent.

The modernisation will also reduce maintenance and service costs by 40 per cent.

Bucks Free Press: Council bosses open CCTV control-room

WDC bosses officially open the control room. See above right for before and after photos.

Cllr Richard Scott, cabinet member for younger and older people with responsibility for CCTV, said: “We are very pleased, it's a very impressive system.

“CCTV is an important tool in maintaining the relatively low crime and anti-social behaviour levels in the Wycombe district and beyond.

“The modernisation of the control room also means that we are now able to provide a higher quality community service, at a reduced cost to the taxpayer.

“It also gives me great comfort to know that some areas of the district that were previously without CCTV are now covered, adding to the safety of the district.”

The project was given the green light by cabinet in 2008 and was funded via a capital programme in a “spend to save” scheme.

The re-fit was carried out by council contractors to help keep costs down and has been completed a month ahead of schedule.

The office is manned 24/7 by a team of eight operatives working on a rota system.

In the last decade the CCTV service has helped Thames Valley Police make more than 5,000 arrests and assisted in the search for 2,600 missing people.

The control centre has also responded to in excess of 186,000 Wycombe Watch and Pub Watch calls, and dealt with 27,000 requests from motorists at council-owned car-park help points.

WDC's CCTV is overseen by an independent lay visitor panel that safeguards the rights and interests of those living or visiting areas covered by CCTV, in line with the law.