Authorities would not tolerate a mere "shift'' in crime from areas with closed circuit cameras to those without, a City official said yesterday.

And he distanced himself from comments that he was pleased the hi-tech equipment had already resulted in a lessening of crime in its vicinity despite the subsequent climb in other areas -- such as in north Hamilton.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said he was "surprised and pleased'' when he read Police comments in The Royal Gazette last week that less thefts from unattended vehicles were taking place around the cameras.

He said more cameras could be installed in problem areas as soon as an in- depth study into the cameras' exact influence on crime was carried out, along with community consultation showing there was demand.

Acting Superintendent Gertrude Barker said a glance at the latest figures seemed to show that just the presence of the spy cameras had deterred some criminals from breaking the law in the immediate vicinity.

She said it seemed they were enough to make some criminals think twice.

And a significant proportion of incidents involving thefts from cars had moved from the central division to the north of Hamilton, where there were not yet cameras set up.

But Mr. Sherratt yesterday distanced himself from comments that he was pleased with that result if it meant crime had shifted to the north of town -- and he said he thought the term "spy camera'' had a negative image.

He said while he was pleased at reports that the effect of the cameras meant there has been a reduction of crime in the city centre -- he was not happy that another area now had a worse crime problem.

"This is very, very early days for the cameras,'' he said.

"Of course I am happy with any positive effect on crime they have, or that police think that they have.

"But to suggest I am happy that crime is moving somewhere else is not correct,'' he said.

"The Corporation would be pleased if the cameras are already having the effect of deterring or preventing crime but not simply to shift it elsewhere.'' He also stressed that the Police figures which first linked the cameras to the reduction of crimes nearby only took into account thefts from unattended vehicles.

And while he was glad these preliminary figures showed an improvement around the cameras he said a more thorough study of their efficiency and effectiveness would be carried out.

"Despite these initial positive reports, in reality at this point I believe it's probably too early to have assessed whether or not crime as a whole is being prevented, or indeed being transferred to other areas.'' He said if residents and businesses wanted more cameras, the Corporation would consider installing the cameras in north Hamilton if they proved to be effective in the long-term.

And he said the first cameras could be switched on as early as today.

GOVERNMENT GVT