CRIME in Felixstowe is down more than 13 per cent - and the town's new CCTV cameras are said to be the reason.

CRIME in Felixstowe is down more than 13 per cent - and the town's new CCTV cameras are said to be the reason.

A fifth closed circuit television camera has been put up in Hamilton Road, thanks to a �6,000 boost from traders and other organisations.

The new camera will cover the southern end of Hamilton Road, near the Beijing Restaurant.

It will be linked to the same system as the four CCTV cameras installed last year thanks to a Home Office grant of �37,000 secured by the Suffolk Coastal Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

“Over the last three months, compared to the same period of time last year, levels of crime has gone down 13.3 per cent in the Felixstowe and District Safer Neighbourhood Team area, which means that the presence of the CCTV cameras and the work of the dedicated band of volunteers who monitor them is making a difference to the safety of our town,” said Doreen Savage, chairman of the Felixstowe Community CCTV Partnership.

“The team of trained volunteers, who staff the control room where the CCTV images feed into at peak periods, make it possible for officers to respond to incidents caught on camera and are proving to be indispensable to the police as they continue to combat crime and disorder.

“CCTV helps to make residents feel safer, and the installation of the new camera will extend the area of Felixstowe that will benefit from the service.”

The new camera is being funded thanks to �2,800 from Felixstowe Chamber of Commerce, �1,000 each from the Yeo Group, owner of The Alex and Benncotta restaurants, Suffolk police and the Suffolk Coastal CSP, with Felixstowe Town Council meeting the running costs.

Is CCTV having an impact on Felixstowe town centre? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk