ISEEM to remember that when they were first being introduced, despite some public misgivings, the spy cameras in the town centre were going to virtually eliminate crime from this area.

So why are more muggings of youngsters being reported taking place in these safe areas than before and rarely is anyone identified, despite the 24-hour surveillance cameras.

Is it possible that these cameras are left without films like so many of the speed trap cameras dotted around the town, or is it that they are not as effective as we were led to believe?

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.