CCTV cameras in Pontypool have played a huge part in stopping anti-social behaviour in the town, councillors and police say.

In recent months, crimes filmed on camera include acts of graffiti, vandalism, fighting and drink-driving.

In each of these cases, the police have responded to the incident and arrests have been made.

Councillor John Marshall, Torfaen council's executive member for environment, said: "Pontypool town centre is undergoing huge changes at the moment to encourage more shoppers and visitors.

"We are determined to make the town centre a place where everyone feels safe and secure, and where businesses can invest with confidence. "We won't allow a very small minority of people to cause trouble and get away with it.

"CCTV is helping provide evidence for the police to catch these troublemakers."

PC Andy Cleaton, crime reduction officer at Pontypool, added: "Sometimes CCTV is the only way we can identify an offender. "It is thanks to the vigilance of staff watching the screens that we have been able to catch these offenders."

Pontypool has had 12 cameras in its town centre since 1998. The town also has 23 CCTV cameras in its Riverside car park. These were installed last year.

Cameras in Cwmbran Shopping are operated by its owners, Prudential, rather than the council, and were recently upgraded. In Blaenau Gwent, CCTV is in place in Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar town centre and Cefn Golau.

In Caerphilly county borough, Blackwood and Newbridge there are eight cameras in each.

Risca has three and that number is set to double imminently. Last year CCTV spread to Monmouthshire, with cameras in Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth.

After teething problems, Caldicot reported a 37 per cent reduction in crime in October 2003.