POLICE are being kept in the picture about town centre crime now that long-awaited closed circuit television cameras are rolling in Darwen

A distraught mother who had become separated from her six-year-old son was the first person to benefit from the £90,000 scheme which is currently being tested.

The operator found the lost child within seconds by viewing monitors housed in Darwen Police Station.

A drug deal, an assault, a vandal attack and thefts have also been detected by the new facility which will eventually be linked up to a full-time monitoring team at Blackburn Shopping Centre.

Inspector Stuart Coates of Darwen Police said: "One of the best things about these cameras is their ability to patrol themselves.

"We have chosen a total of 60 pre-set positions, ranging from cash machines, benches and pub doorways to the bus station and car parks.

"The cameras check those positions constantly and automatically and are already playing an important role in improving community safety and preventing crime."

Funding for the project came from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council following the failure of three bids for government backing.

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