Hartlepool community monitoring association alleges council is allegedly trying to silence CCTV system.

West Park & District Local Council has cameras which have been paid for by homeowners which they believe have been instrumental in reducing violence and aiding the police. However, members have been issued with Community Protection Warnings warning them not to monitor open places after Hartlepool Borough Council received complaints from the public. The directives also cautioned them they might be criminally prosecuted if they did not cease.

The organization says it thinks it has received all the required licenses and permits to install CCTV and it will obtain legal representation. A representative said: “All we’re trying to do is avoid and identify wrongdoing in our region and put it at away. We’re not utilizing it for something else.

People have claimed that definitely felt better with the security cameras.

We intended to watch a massive spectrum for individuals who can’t buy a camera so we could view the entire neighborhood.

He claimed videotape was only examined by administrators with necessary accreditation and certification.

The spokesman added when they approached the council for specifics of concerns so they could resolve them, authorities declined to answer.

The cameras may presently only be focused on homeowners’ own premises.

The organization representative said:  At this time your picture gets picked up hundreds of times a day. Nothing else was done with the photos except if the authorities demanded it.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council representative said: “This is an active inquiry therefore we are constrained as to what we can say at this time. Nevertheless, we can confirm we have taken measures after the submission of a number of reports from Hartlepool homeowners who were worried about someone being recorded and observed by individuals in their neighborhoods.