It may smack of Big Brother, but closed circuit television cameras are now a necessity in many towns.

They have played their part in reducing scenes of violence and crime in Swindon town centre now there are calls to install cameras up the road in Old Town.

Such demands are understandable. A good night out can be had in Old Town with its many pubs, clubs and bars. But with it often comes drunkenness, rowdiness, vandalism and violence.

If it is to be controlled measures need to be taken which will deter the unruly element, or at least catch them in the act when their anti-social activities get out of hand.

To many, CCTV may sound like drastic action in a town not especially noted for anti-social behaviour or excess yobbishness. But it is a symptom of a society that makes alcohol so easy to obtain and if young people are encouraged to quaff large amounts of drink in a short space of time, the consequences are at best ugly, at worst frightening.

As far as the residents and traders of Old Town are concerned, the cash used to install CCTV would be money well spent.