ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in the Railway Village will be reprimanded by talking CCTV.

The camera, which is attached to a lamppost, will bark out orders to anyone misbehaving in the Faringdon Road area.

An operator will watch all activity on the camera from the Waterside CCTV station and challenge offenders via microphones.

The controller can also swivel the camera in any direction to get a 360-degree view.

Another £15,000 camera is due to arrive in Penhill soon, while a third one, which won't talk, is already deployed in a secret location.

The council's policy and regeneration manager, Mark Walker, said the wireless- controlled camera is the first in the country.

"Unruly behaviour linked to alcohol, including sexual activity and drug misuse, has been reported by residents in the Railway Village," he said.

"The talking CCTV is a way of being more proactive in dealing with issues. We hope it will deter crime.

"It will make people think about their behaviour in a way they haven't in the past."

He said it will make offenders realise they have been spotted.

Because the camera is wireless-operated it can be quickly moved to other trouble spots in the town.

But Mr Walker is keen to dismiss fears that talking CCTV is a further step towards a Big Brother state.

"The clear message is we will only put the cameras in locations where residents have identified problems," he said.

"It is another way we can help to improve people's quality of life."

Coun David Renard, the cabinet member for health, housing and social care, said: "The residents of the Railway Village told us there were problems there. That's why this is going in there.

"When we told them we had these mobile cameras which talked to people, the residents were keen.

"The police certainly find them very useful in gathering evidence for bringing people to book. There is a question about if the cameras just move people from one area to another.

"But what they do is allow us to identify perpetrators of crime and work with the police to deal with them.

"I feel that they will make a difference. The mobile camera in Welcombe Avenue produced results, there's nothing to think these won't."