Police made 700 arrests last year in Barnet as a direct result of CCTV.

The Barnet Council figures follow the installment of cameras in two more Barnet town centres last week, bringing the total number of cameras in the borough to 116. It does not include traffic cameras.

The 700 arrests were in the 12 months between April 1 last year and April 1 this year, and means on average the cameras led to two arrests every day.

They are monitored 24 hours a day by trained staff in a secret location in the borough. They then inform police, who make arrests if necessary.

The council does not keep a record of how many of the 700 arrests led to prosecution.

Launching the new CCTV in Whetstone and East Finchley last Tuesday, Councillor Brian Coleman, cabinet member of community safety and community engagement, said CCTV helped reduce street crime and antisocial behaviour, and warned: "If you break the law in Barnet you will be caught on camera."

Although 700 arrests compares unfavourably with the total number of crimes each year in the borough - about 30,000 at the last count - many of those crimes would have been committed away from the gaze of CCTV cameras.

The Conservative council firmly believes in CCTV, saying it prevents and solves crime.

Superintendent Ian Forrester, of Barnet police, said: "CCTV not only plays an important role in tackling street crime and antisocial behaviour, but it is also a valuable resource in major investigations and in the fight against terrorism.

"I welcome the recent introduction of additional cameras in East Finchley and Whetstone and look forward to its continued roll out across the borough.

"The operators carry out valued work in the monitoring of the cameras and is demonstrative of the effective partnership approach to policing in Barnet."

George Irons, chairman of the Federation of Residents' Associations in Barnet believes the cameras make Barnet a safer place and reduce the workload for police.

He said: "I would rather have them than not. I understand the Big Brother argument, but we can't let crime get worse."

The council is installing six more cameras in Burnt Oak in addition to the seven already in that area.

A council spokesman said the cameras would go live in the next few months'.

The largest number of CCTV cameras are in North Finchley and Barnet where there are 12 each.

pstebbings@london.newsquest.co.uk