Sussex Police have launched a consultation into scrapping the role of CCTV camera watcher, with responsibility for monitoring screens potentially falling to police office staff.

The force said all people currently employed to monitor Sussex’s CCTV cameras will be offered new roles within the force.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said that frontline policing will not be affected under any potential changes.

“Sussex Police will retain the same CCTV monitoring capability as before, it will continue to be monitored by staff and officers with local knowledge and expertise to support policing and keep our communities safe,” he said.

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“The monitoring of CCTV in Sussex is an important part of supporting policing in the county.

“The proposed changes being made are in accordance with a national model adopted by other forces, to take into account changes in technology.”

A team of specialist CCTV watchers currently monitor the screens round the clock. The consultation is exploring giving this responsibility to police staff.

The Argus was told by a source that the consultation has been launched in an effort to save money.