The initiative is part of the Safer Fenland Partnership and aims to help improve community safety.

Mick Napier, Fenland Council's Street Safe CCTV manager, said Wisbech has 28 cameras which are monitored and record 24 hours-a-day.

He said the council works closely with police and the CCTV operator has a direct link to the police control room.
Images can be sent to police headquarters and tapes can also be checked by police.

The cameras are also a way of checking areas for traffic congestion or accidents.

Mr Napier hopes the posters will serve as a reminder to shoplifters and vandals that they are being watched and also help ease the public's fear of crime.

The CCTV cameras can pan, tilt and zoom and new digital technology is being introduced which will enable tapes to be checked more quickly with area and time searches.

Also attending the launch was Kevin Smith as centre manager for the Horse Fair, which is also taking part in the scheme, Wisbech mayor, Jonathan Farmer and Whittlesey councillor Ken Mayor, who chairs the Safer Fenland Partnership.

Speaking about the poster campaign Mr Farmer said it can't do any harm and he felt the posters were about the right size to get the message across.

The campaign is in conjunction with the police and PCSOs Michelle Poulter and Sue Clarke were at the launch.