COUNCILLORS are calling on chief constable David Kenworthy to make public a report on the value of CCTV security cameras in Ryedale.

The district council's overview and scrutiny committee chairman, Coun Debbie Aubrook, said: "We also want to know how many incidents and prosecutions resulted from CCTV, as well as the cost of manning the cameras."

She said cost benefits of the system were also needed.

The move is the latest twist in a row between the borough and district authorities in North Yorkshire - including Ryedale - and Mr Kenworthy, who wants to transfer the cost of manning the cameras to the local authorities from the police from April next year.

The councils have protested, claiming it will cost them substantial six-figure sums, adding a considerable burden on their already over-stretched budgets.

Coun Jane Kenyon, the chairman of the NY Police Authority, is being invited to meet Ryedale councillors, and Mr Kenworthy is holding a top level meeting with leaders of all the district councils on March 14, in a bid to resolve the impasse.

Coun Pamela Anderson said councillors should also meet senior pupils from Ryedale schools to ascertain their views on the cameras.

"Do they feel their behaviour is moderated by the cameras?" she asked.

In addition, parish councils are to be asked to give their support to the campaign. She said it was the fear of crime that worried most people, especially the elderly, but the reality was a different story in Ryedale, which has a very low crime rate.

Coun Stephen Shaw said: "Only the police are able to assess the value of the system, yet they are the ones wanting to pull out of it."

Coun Allin Jenkins said: "We need to know from the police if they are getting any benefits from CCTV."

A report is to be made on the findings made by RDC later this year.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, March 07, 2002