CCTV is helping to cut crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough according to the latest figures.

According to figures from the Ealing Council's CCTV unit pictures from the Council's CCTV cameras have led to a total of 738 arrests over the past six months. This is in addition to work already being done by the police.

The Council's dedicated CCTV unit caught 1,762 incidents of criminal or anti-social behavior on camera. The unit directs the police to incidents where crimes are taking place, and also uses the footage as part of future prosecutions.

The types of incidents caught on CCTV include:

• 233 incidents of disorderly behaviour
• 67 incidents of drunken behaviour
• 129 incidents of street fighting
• 11 graffiti related incidents

CCTV cameras have also captured incidents of illegal gambling, fly-posting and animal cruelty.

Councillor Sue Emment, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: "CCTV is actively helping to tackle problems of crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough.

"Making our communities safer is one of our key priorities and the number of arrests over the past six months show that CCTV has become a crucial tool in our bid to make Ealing a better place to live."

Community and Partnership Superintendent Ian Jenkins of Ealing Borough Police said: "CCTV is used as part of a package of measures to reduce crime, disorder and anti social behaviour in Ealing.

"It has a proven track record in crime reduction and combined with local Safer Neighbourhood Teams will provide a highly visible deterrent to those who are thinking about committing crime or causing antisocial behaviour in Ealing Borough.

Ealing Council has 360 dedicated CCTV cameras across the borough monitoring activity 24 hours a day. In addition, the cameras normally used for monitoring traffic, bus lanes and parking contraventions/offences, are redirected immediately to observe and capture criminal acts as they happen.

The Council is now installing interactive signs across the borough drawing people’s attention to CCTV cameras. The new signs, which are movement activated, will make it clear that cameras images are being recorded and will be a deterrent to those who have intent to commit criminal or anti-social acts.

The CCTV cameras are in clear public view and are fixed in permanent locations.