Witham could have a hi-tech "roving eye" to keep a watch out for crime.

It would be used both within the town and possibly on industrial estates as part of a major expansion in CCTV coverage.

The scheme is being kick-started by a £17,000 cash injection from Witham Council and would involve businesses paying their share of costs to extend it to the town's industrial areas.

Outlining the scheme this week, Witham Town Council leader Phil Barlow said: "We have set up a working party to examine how the current CCTV system can be extended and will be having discussions with the police crime prevention officer and local business organisations.

"There is scope for even a mobile CCTV unit -- a roving eye -- which can be particularly valuable in many aspects, on residential estates for example.

"We have carried over £7,000 from this year's budget and allocated a further £10,000 from next year's. We cannot, of course, subsidise CCTV on the industrial estates, as we do not receive any of the business rents, so commerce will have to be involved."

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