ALTON could see the introduction of CCTV cameras to help combat its reputation as "an easy target" for criminals from outside the area.

According to Alton's Inspector Nigel Hindle, feedback has shown that criminals from the Portsmouth and Aldershot area view Alton as a 'soft touch', mainly because the smaller retail outlets do not have store detectives and the town has no CCTV.

A full version of this story will be found in the Alton Herald of February 2, 2001.