Ian ClarkeFive Norfolk market towns will be covered by a new state-of-the-art wireless CCTV system after a 10-year, �3.5m contract was agreed.Breckland Council has signed a partnership with AMS (Advance Monitoring Solutions Ltd) and the new system should be installed in Thetford, Dereham, Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton within the next nine months.Ian Clarke

Five Norfolk towns will be covered by an up-to-date wireless CCTV system after a 10-year, �3.5m contract was agreed.

Breckland Council has signed a partnership with AMS (Advance Monitoring Solutions), and the sys-tem should be installed in Thetford, Dereham, Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton within nine months.

Businesses and households will have the chance to buy into the system and have their own premises monitored by the control room.

It will replace the existing network of cameras. The new technology is low maintenance and enables instant access to images by authorised part-ners, says Breckland.

The signing of the contract follows years of consultation with local people and businesses, town council representatives and other interested parties.

Stephen Askew, council executive member for communities, said: "Our current CCTV was installed in 1995 using the best technology available at the time, but after 14 years it had become outdated.

Currently, images have to be stored on bulky tapes which are difficult to store and access, and image quality needs to be improved. This time around, we specifically opted for a system that is extremely flexible and can be easily amended or upgraded in future years. We also made the decision to enter into a commercial partnership arrangement with AMS to reduce the overall cost to residents. Businesses, individuals and home-owners will be able to buy into the scheme and have their own security systems, such as intruder or fire alarms, monitored by the control room."

Andy Haughton, head of business development at AMS, said he was confident the new technology would help improve people's safety.

Images picked up by the cameras are transmitted digitally to local storage devices. From there they can be viewed from remote locations by any number of authorised users, including the council's central control room and local police.

High-spec cameras with powerful magnification can provide images day and night and in all weathers.

The new CCTV system will be installed in all five Breckland market towns, with an additional four roving cameras available to provide a flexible response to other problems.

Businesses and householders interested in buying into the scheme should ring Grahame Green at Breckland on 01362 656870.