Cost of CCTV revealed
North Norfolk District Council has spent �621,359 installing and running CCTV cameras over the past four years, it has been revealed.
The sum emerged after Freedom of Information requests were submitted to more than 300 councils across the country asking how much was spent on setting up and operating the cameras between 2007 and 2010.
The organisation which carried out the research – Big Brother Watch – claims cameras are a waste of money.
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: 'Public money is being wasted on snooping surveillance that does next to nothing to prevent or solve crime. We are being watched more than ever before and we're being ripped off into the bargain.'
The figures revealed that throughout Norfolk more than �4.8m was spent installing and running cameras during the period.
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Norwich City Council, which has spent �1.68m on CCTV, the 53rd highest amount in the country, was Norfolk's biggest spender.
City council leader Steve Morphew has said, in the face of cuts to services, it could be time for councils to look into sharing the technology.
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