The CCTV control room staff will get extra training

Darlington is internationally acknowledged for its success in reducing crime with its state-of-the-art system.

Now the council has been asked to operate the cameras in both Bishop Auckland and Crook as well.

Graham Putt, the CCTV controller, said the control centre staff will get special briefings on the two new locations.

He said: "They [the locations] are not as familiar yet.

"A colleague and I have walked the site in conjunction with the police, we have seen the cameras and we have maps showing us where the cameras are.

"We have also asked the police for crime information and hotspot information.

"We also intend to get the staff to walk the site so they get that first-hand impression of what it is like.

"After that - very much like our own camera - it is simply a process of acquiring the information, but I expect that will be relatively quick because we are used to operating similar systems."