PRIVATISED eyes could be watching over Herefordshire from a newly-created county surveillance centre, writes BILL TANNER.

Police say they can no longer monitor the area's CCTV system effectively so other options are being examined. Relocating screens to a site where they can be scrutinised 24 hours a day, seven days a week is part of the plan.

CCTV cameras came to the county in the 1990s and currently cover parts of Hereford, Ledbury, Ross, and Leominster.

Images feed into the control room at Hereford central police station. But Chief Inspector Dudley Harcombe says that current communications demands mean staff can no longer give CCTV the 'necessary degree of monitoring' to make it effective.

The envisaged alternative is a separate 'surveillance centre' where the screens can be observed all the time.

This would be linked to the control room allowing police primacy over the system in emergencies.

Already various premises have been assessed as to their suitability for such a use.

The cameras are owned by Herefordshire Council, which may out-source their operation to the private sector if budgets allow. But a spokesperson confirms nothing 'concrete' has been decided.

Councillor Colin Rumsey (Lib Dem/Aylestone) played a leading role in bringing CCTV to Hereford. He says 'strict guidelines' should be in place before private security personnel are put in charge.

"Had I known then what I know now, we would have fitted the screens in council offices. I can't believe the police can't employ an outside body to do the monitoring."