'CITIZEN detectives' taking pictures and videos of criminal activity could help police catch crooks, a councillor has suggested.

Darius Laws, councillor for Castle ward, is hunting for methods to assist Essex Police in catching and prosecuting criminals after receiving swathes of emails from constituents complaining of anti-social behaviour.

After witnessing a rise in cases of residents posting pictures and footage of criminal activity on social media pages, Mr Laws suggests police could put this resource to use.

"I do think it is a discussion that needs to be had," he said.

"The reason why I am passionate about this is as a councillor I am inundated with emails and concerns about anti-social behaviour.

"People are looking to us for solutions and I'm not saying I have a solution.

"But I know people are taking matters into their own hands with cameras and their phones, getting footage of untoward behaviour and giving it to the police.

"While I am not suggesting we should have vigilantes, I do think there are people who are willing to call out criminals and gather this evidence."

Mr Laws said while he was not issuing a call for citizen detectives to take to the streets, the idea should be considered by police.

"There is definitely a conversation that can be had on this," he said.

"For example the recent graffiti on the Roman Walls will cost the Borough hundreds, if not thousands of pounds to remove.

"I suspect those responsible have tagged many, many more parts of the town centre - so evidence on those responsible would be excellent in ensuring reparations."

He added: "I would look to the police for guidance on how this could work and I will be writing to Roger Hirst.

"We would have to know what is safe and what is appropriate as we don't want to encourage vigilantism.

"I always see people posting evidence to crimewatch pages on social media, there seems to be a useful resource for the police right there."