I refer to the letter in the Malvern Gazette of the July 15 headed "We are owed an apology for expensive cameras which don't work".

The Malvern Hills district static CCTV system was installed in 2003 and covers the area of Malvern town, Barnards Green, Malvern Link, and the the car park at Belle Vue Terrace.

During this time the cameras have been an integral part of many successful police operations, for example detecting and convicting a team of professional drug dealers, cases of violent disorder and theft of and from motor vehicles, to name but a few.

Of course, there will be times when the cameras malfunction and there will be times when the cameras will need to be routinely maintained and we fully acknowledge that during these periods events' will take place that are missed, such as the Elgar Statute incident.

Recently we have installed mobile cameras in Priory Park which are moved around the park to locations where we suspect, and police intelligence systems indicate, the likelihood of crime.

These cameras and the processes which govern their use are achieving some encouraging results. For example, on June 14 at 3.30pm three youths were spotted on CCTV causing damage to the trees in Priory Park. The police were called and the youths were caught and issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice.

In this case, both the police and the district council would like to have gone further to name and shame' these young vandals as a warning to others and to demonstrate that the cameras are working properly.

Unfortunately, current legislation does not allow this as permission is needed from the courts to allow this, and as these youths have not been put before the courts the district council is powerless to take this action. We are often frustrated by legislation that precludes us from sharing some of our successes with you, as was the case here.

COUN Philip Grove, portfolio holder Community Safety, Malvern Hills District Council.