DOORBELL cameras are the latest tool being used by police to tackle crime in Swindon.

Householders with any type of CCTV at their home are being urged to register their devices with the Wiltshire force.

The hope is that this will build a database of private cameras in the borough, speeding up police investigations in the process.

Five Conservative councillors – Dale Heenan, Rahul Tarar, Steve Heyes, Vinay Manro and mayor Kevin Parry – are backing the idea.

Coun Tarar said: “This isn’t about surveillance, this is about helping the police with information so they know if there’s a reported incident in one street, they where they can go and ask a resident for footage.

“If they already have that information on a map that will just speed up the police’s ability to solve the crime.

“There is already a database where people can inform Wiltshire police of this.”

Couns Manro and Heenan’s wards are at opposite ends of the borough at Priory Vale and Covingham and Dorcan. They found themselves working on the same idea separately before joining forces.

Coun Heenan said: “This would be a first in the UK for a dedicated database of CCTV and camera doorbells.

Coun Manro said: “These doorbells and CCTV technology is really spreading fast, and they’re very useful. I think we all have one ourselves at our own homes.

Coun Tarar added: “The doorbell cameras are movement activated and are designed to show you who is at your door on your smartphone, but it also keeps that footage which can be used as stills as well.

Coun Heenan added: “It’s not just for crimes or incidents in the immediate area.

"If there’s a crime reported in one street, but the perpetrators were wearing masks, maybe they went round the corner to their car and probably took their masks off – the police would be able to look at who’s got a camera in that neighbouring street as well.”

Wiltshire Police say anyone wishing to register can do so through its community messaging website.

A police spokesman said: “Community Messaging is a communications tool which we encourage people to sign up to so they can receive information and updates from Wiltshire Police, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Get Safe Online and Neighbourhood Watch.

“Another benefit of Community Messaging is that we can use it to build up a database of useful information, which could help us investigate and solve crimes, including the details of people within our communities who have private CCTV cameras or video doorbells.

“When people subscribe to the free information service they can decide how to receive the information – by email, text or voicemail, and they can also be prescriptive about the types of information they receive.

“We use it to provide community alerts, information about events, details of crime trends, appeals for information, crime prevention advice and updates on court cases.

“It is particularly useful for those who don’t use social media."

To sign up or read more about Community Messaging go to www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk