Not a single drug dealer has been caught by a £20,000 CCTV system - because it is still sitting in its box
Colchester Council revealed last May that it had won Government cash to spend on two portable cameras to hamper drug selling and taking on the town's streets.
But seven months on they are still not being used because of the wait for planning permission and difficulties getting the clamps which will fix them to buildings.
Robert Needham, Colchester Council's operational services manager, said the hold-ups were "hugely disappointing".
The first delay was caused by the time it took to get planning consent for an aerial.
It will be set up at the top of the town hall to receive signals from the mobile cameras wherever they are in Colchester.
Now officers are waiting to get hold of the clamps, which will attach the cameras to buildings.
Mr Needham said: "It's a disappointing delay but we've got to have the right fixing arrangements."
He added he hoped the system would be working by the end of February, when it would be linked in to the town's main CCTV system.
Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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