Inspector Les Clark met with town councillors on Tuesday to discuss CCTV provision in the town, amongst other items.
The system currently has eight cameras scattered around the town, with the images from each relayed to the control room at Tenby police station, allowing officers to monitor much of the town centre area with most of the harbour and North Beach also covered.
In addition, the cameras are also often monitored centrally at Haverfordwest police station by staff who view the CCTV systems in other towns. The system is funded by the Welsh Assembly, Pembrokeshire County Council, with £2,255 given by Tenby Town Council per annum towards some of its running costs.
"Every police officer stationed at Tenby could give instances of how he or she has used the system to the benefit of the public," Insp. Clark told councillors, going on to give a number of examples of such cases.
He also pointed to the effective use of the system during the town's summer pedestrianisation period, as a road safety measure.
"Officers are directed to offending vehicles when detected to prevent them moving through crowds of unsuspecting visitors in order to prevent injury," he explained.
Deputy Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths, commended Insp. Clark on a very "encouraging" report, but commented that a number of residents had approached him over concerns that the CCTV system was just a form of substituting officers from the streets.
"Residents have questioned the CCTV system's purpose and monitoring, and see it as a way of covering up an absence of visible police officers around the streets," said Clr. Griffiths.
Insp. Clark disagreed and reassured councillors that the system would not lead to a reduction of officers in the town.
"If anything, it increases the workload of officers. CCTV is not a panacea and it is a fact that crime will always occur.
"It is just a tool for policing and will help officers detect crime that has been committed, but it will not stop all crime," continued Insp. Clark.
Clr. Paul Rapi informed the inspector that residents living in Lower Frog Street wanted to see the CCTV cameras utilised along there more often, as once the pubs in the town closed, a lot of anti-social behaviour and incidents of vandalism occurred in that area.
Insp Clark also answered questions on anti-social parking in the town and explained how officers had attempted to monitor the situation in High Street where double yellow lines had been removed.
"I receive more letters about anti-social parking than anything else, but if a crime is being committed somewhere, that is the main priority for my officers," he remarked.
Insp. Clark explained that it was the decision of the County Council and National Park Authority to remove the lines and not that of the police, with Clr. Griffiths agreeing that it was their actions that had led to locals' confidence in the police force eroding.
The town clerk pointed out that the authorities were looking to introduce less obtrusive yellow lines back onto High Street.
"Put yourself in this position, local or not, if you see a street where there are no double yellow lines, you think that you are entitled to park there, but if you take advantage of the situation and obstruct a route, it causes chaos for motorists," said Insp Clark.