IN response to PL Cartlidge’s recent comments about CCTV cameras in Wirral, as a serving police officer I find those comments ill thought out and the facts are CCTV does deter crime and is a proven asset in the gathering of evidence.

The service provided by the hard-working council staff is excellent and, I can assure him, very professional. It is not a "secret security force".

As an example, the evidence gathered from CCTV during the [August 2011] disturbances in Birkenhead proved valuable in convicting those responsible.

PB by email.