Councillors yesterday backed efforts to look into the potential installation of CCTV in Peterhead.
Retailers called for a security system to cover the town centre following a spate of alleged break-ins over November and December last year.
A petition backing the introduction of cameras secured more than 800 signatures and was handed in to council bosses last month.
Members of the Buchan area committee yesterday agreed to support a council report considering CCTV.
The local authority’s infrastructure services will prepare a document on the scheme for councillors.
It will consider possible CCTV solutions for Peterhead including ownership, sustainability, maintenance and on-going running costs.
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The completed document will be presented to the Buchan area committee before the summer recess.
Chris White, the council’s area manager for Buchan, said work on a report on the viability of CCTV in the north-east’s biggest town has already begun.
He told the meeting in Peterhead yesterday that new cameras could be just one solution for making the town’s streets safer.
Mr White said: “There are three substantive costs. Firstly the installation, the biggest cost is the surveillance and staffing, and thirdly having an up to date system.
“We have got to make sure we have the right system in place and it produces usable evidence.
“Looking at the evidence crime of in Peterhead it is actually at a low level. There is an assertion in the petition that is at a high level.
“I think fear of crime is a greater issue than crime itself.
Petition calling for much needed CCTV in Peterhead handed to council
“In addition to the CCTV it would be useful to get an update from the police on crime in the town centre.”
Councillor Alan Buchan said the one of the biggest barriers to make the CCTV a reality was paying for it.
He said: “There was a spate of break-ins in the Rose Street and Broad Street and that sparked this. It seems to have calmed down again.
“I think the business community as a whole would like CCTV but the biggest problem is the cost of running it.”
Gilbert Burnett, who owns Buchan Aquatics on Broad Street, launched the petition after his shop was broken in to.
He hopes Peterhead can secure a CCTV network and he is keen to make it happen.
Mr Burnett said: “I’m sure the CCTV will make Peterhead safer.
“If it doesn’t go ahead then I would be left with no choice but to take it further. I would contact our MSP to make it happen and get it done.”
