RYEDALE councillors are taking a tough stance with North Yorkshire Police over the controversial issue of CCTV security cameras.

Members of the district council's overview and scrutiny committee have agreed that the authority should continue to pay £20,000 a year for the cameras to be monitored.

But they say they will not take over the job as Chief Constable David Kenworthy wants.

Committee chairman Coun Debbie Aubrook said: "We are saying to the police 'It is up to you', because we see the cameras as a crime and disorder tool."

She believed that savings could be made in the running costs and said that the local police chief, Inspector Neil Burnett, had indicated that police in Ryedale could monitor the cameras.

"We are keeping our side of the bargain," she said.

"We feel the police are letting us down and that they are renegeing on their part - it isn't a partnership any more."

Coun Allin Jenkins said the council should be prepared to continue funding the system, subject to the police monitoring it.

Insp Burnett told the Evening Press after the meeting: "At the moment the Chief Constable's position remains the same, which is basically that some time during 2003 the police will cease primary monitoring of the CCTV cameras in Ryedale.

"We currently monitor the cameras by utilising our inquiry office staff, and those front counter staff will still be there if we cease monitoring - if the Chief Constable asked us to continue, that would be possible."

But Insp Burnett said Mr Kenworthy had to maintain a consistent approach across the county, and if cameras in Ryedale were monitored by the police, other local authorities could claim their systems had to be included too.

"My hope is that out of all this we do not lose the CCTV system, and that's the big danger at the moment," he said.

"It's a very sensitive and emotive issue and it would be a travesty for us to lose it."

Updated: 09:51 Saturday, September 21, 2002