30 spy cameras in Hamilton to help in the fight against crime.

And Shadow Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said he suspected the PLP Government did not support the closed circuit television system which would have been linked to a Police control room.

But he said the public deserved to at least know when the $1.25 million hi-tech network was expected to be up and running in light of the new delay announced in the House of Assembly on Wednesday night.

Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox told the House that a comprehensive code of conduct for the CCTV system had to be drafted, circulated, evaluated and implemented before the "action phase''.

And in the meantime the cameras -- which the public has watched mushrooming up all over the city over the past few months -- would remain switched off.

She did not specify when the green light was likely to be given.

But last night Mr. Dunkley said he suspected this was a stalling tactic since there had been plenty of time to draw up the code of conduct over the past few months, or rejig another jurisdiction's rules regarding the cameras.

"When we were the Government we tried to move this project along because we thought it was essential to combat crime,'' he said.

"It's a fact that these CCTV cameras have worked throughout the world so of course we were disappointed to learn the plan had been delayed rather than brought forward.

"This time lapsing is allowing criminals to continue in their deviant ways while innocent people suffer as a result.'' He said the public wanted action now to stop crimes like the armed robbery earlier this week which hit two small businesses.

"It's action time now, there should be no more talk or reviews.

"The UBP invested in these things. Some are already mounted on the walls.

Either the new Government is behind it or they're not but they can't just stall like this without even giving any timeframe.

"The public needs to know when they'll have this extra protection and where the Government stands on it.'' He said the previous Budget injected $510,000 into the project which he hoped would not prove to be a waste because of the Government's inaction now.

"CCTV has worked in the past throughout the world. The results are there and it has been very successful for other jurisdictions.

"And the Police have until now been fully supportive of it because of the extra power it will have to deter crime and catch offenders.'' Neither Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt nor Ms. Cox returned calls yesterday.