'We're the eyes in the sky cracking down on criminals'

An "invaluable" team have been working across Somerset for more than three decades helping police catch criminals by using 230 meticulously placed CCTV cameras.

Staff at the county's control rooms monitor live feeds every second of every day, working closely with police, shops and restaurants to alert them to when a prolific offender is in the area.

Manager Jamie Lipton explained that her team are the eyes in the sky that play a vital role in cracking down on criminals committing a range of offences from violent attacks to shoplifting.

PCSO Sam Bushen, from Avon and Somerset Police, described the team as "invaluable" in supporting officers.

Police say they want more businesses to report crimes which would help with prosecutions.

Officers say that information will help them build cases against the thieves - many of whom are well known as repeat offenders. Nationally, data obtained by the BBC shows that just 270 people were connected to more than 28,000 shoplifting offences.

The Somerset Council-run control room watches over everywhere in the county, from Frome to Yeovil, Taunton to Bridgwater.

"We have our well-known hotspots in the certain towns and our well-known offenders that we will obviously pick up on, especially shoplifting," Lipton said.

"Everywhere I go I watch people; luckily enough it's the perfect job for me because I'm just so nosy."

When her team spots a serial shoplifter, they alert businesses via radio that the individual is approaching their venue.

If the individual enters a shop, Lipton's team will then record what happens so it can be used as evidence in court.

The CCTV operators also regularly speak to policing teams about missing people and violent behaviour.

PCSO Bushen, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the team offers very precise information.

"[They] may give us a call and say Mr X has gone and stolen something and give us a description of where he is, where he was last seen and if we have operators in those locations we'll go and arrest them," he said.

In Taunton, where PCSO Bushen is based, he said the top items that are stolen are "meat, toys, fragrance any items basically that can effectively easy to sell".

The cameras are jointly funded by Somerset Council and local town and parish councils.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, cabinet member for communities at Somerset Council, said the cameras are really important.

"We work with the police, they're funded by our city, town and parish councils, all of that brings and adds value to Somerset," she added.

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