The screens to Newtown's network of town centre CCTV cameras remain blank after the system was turned off, raising concerns over safety and crime reduction in the town.
The system, which is used as a crime deterrant and for compiling evidence in street crime, has been switched off as Powys County Council and Dyfed Powys Police review CCTV system in town centres throughout Powys under the Community Safety Partnership.
The road monitoring cameras, introduced following the changes to the town road network, are not affected by the CCTV switch off. Cameras are placed at various locations around the town centre and have been used in a number of crinimal cases and to act as a deterrant.
A spokesman for Powys County Council confirmed that the CCTV network was currently switched off. He added that the council had issued a statement in July about a review into the overall CCTV network throughout Powys.
Cllr Les Davies, Chairman of the Powys Community Safety Partnership (CSP), said: “A review into town centre CCTV systems in Powys will be carried out by the CSP, which brings together all organisations who are responsible for tackling crime and disorder in the county.
“The review will look the effectiveness of the CCTV system to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour along with other issues such as funding and maintenance of the system. However, until this review has taken place, the system will remain offline.
“Powys is one of the safest places to live in England and Wales but the CSP has a grip of the issues that do exist and we do have other resources including mobile CCTV that we can use to keep our county safe.”