WORRIED residents who say there has been an increase in crime near their homes are blaming closed circuit TV cameras, claiming they are forcing criminals further outside the town centre.

Residents in Lucas Road and Rectory Avenue, High Wycombe, say that crime, particularly car crime, has gone up for the last two years and the increase started around the time the cameras were installed.

Simon Rogers, 36, a businessman from Rectory Avenue, said: "We have talked to the local residents' association. They have sent letters to the police and Wycombe District Council. We also had a meeting on April 11 with the police and there was very little they could do other than suggest we start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme."

He added: "The type of crime we are moaning about is very minor compared to other crimes in the town. At the same time it doesn't make us feel happy."

CCTV was installed in High Wycombe town centre at a cost of £400,000 in October 1998, and car park CCTV was added for a further £540,000.

Police say that town centre car park crime fell from 54 to 28 incidents between April to December 99 compared to April to December 2000 and retail crime fell from 1184 to 1045 in the same period.

Inspector George Wrigley, Wycombe Sector inspector, said: "We had a spate of stolen vehicles being abandoned and set fire to in Lucas Road but could not discern any reason why it was happening.

"The sum of the increase in the Lucas Road and Rectory Avenue area is far less than the decrease that has been enjoyed by the whole of the town.

"That doesn't mean we are not sympathetic but one has to realise when effective measures are carried out in one area there quite often is displacement."