A Kent district has become the county's CCTV capital after doubling the number of cameras - but victims of crime say they feel safer in London.

New figures attained by IronmongeryDirect show there are now 505 council-owned cameras in Thanet, an increase of 262 over the past three years.

Meanwhile, Maidstone has just 35 - and business owners there say they are having to employ doormen amid concerns they have been left to fend for themselves.

Across the county, the number of CCTV cameras has risen by a third, with more than 2,000 now being operated by councils.

Yet some residents believe the equipment does little to stop crime.

Maxine Lewis, whose son Curtis was stabbed in the centre of Thanet town Ramsgate earlier this year, says the extensive CCTV coverage has not made the area safer.

"It was CCTV that caught Daniel Haine smiling as he stabbed my son - and the judge acknowledged this - so it does work to provide evidence to convict people," she told KentOnline.

“But the cameras haven’t made the area safer. They don’t work to prevent crime, and the night Curtis was stabbed, the situation clearly wasn’t being monitored in the way Thanet District Council claims it can.

“I think it’s disgusting the amount of money that has been spent without making sure these cameras will be able to prevent crimes. Until I feel like it’s a bit safer, I don’t want to go back there.

"My family are there, my children are still there, it’s where I was born - but right now I feel safer living in London.”

Thanet District Council (TDC), which also governs coastal towns Margate and Broadstairs, was one of 16 local authorities in the whole country to have doubled the number of units under its control over the period.

TDC chiefs have confirmed the explosion of cameras in the district cost almost £322,000. They will have to fork out a further £48,000 a year to maintain the equipment.

Bosses stress the vast majority of the new units have been installed in residential areas, while a small number have been placed in public spaces for specific purposes, like the safer streets in Ramsgate initiative.

The town has previously been branded "lawless" following a spate of violence and late-night disorder.

And Ramsgate Tandoori owner Raushan Ara agrees that existing CCTV cameras need to be better utilised.

Ms Ara, who is also the town's mayor, said: "It’s so vital we have CCTV, especially in our town centres. But speeding, anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, you name it, it’s happening in our neighbourhood.

“We need more policing, more CCTV and existing cameras need to be better utilised. A safe neighbourhood is so important.”

Officials insist the cameras are monitored by the authority's CCTV control room and that the equipment "allows us to react to potential issues in real time and provide footage to police to support investigations".

The number of the devices under TDC's control is more than those run by councils in Dover, Dartford, Ashford, Swale, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Folkestone & Hythe combined.

Thanet’s nearest competitor was Medway, which had 411 cameras as of July 2022.

However, Maidstone Borough Council has been found to monitor just 35, having fitted just three more in three years.

The county town - which has a recent history of violent crime including the murder of Andre Bent in 2019 - ditched part of its CCTV coverage in a bid to cut costs.

McDonald's franchise owner Ali El-Hajj, whose Week Street branch saw a security guard arrested after an altercation with a group of "unruly" girls, branded the use of cameras in the area “pathetic”.

“All the resources are stretched, the police don’t have enough numbers, but something has to be done to stop the anti-social behaviour," the fast-food boss stated.

“Thirty-five cameras is pathetic, with the level of anti-social behaviour and crime, it’s nowhere near enough.

“Most of the shops near Week Street have security or will get security, it feels as though they want us to protect ourselves.

“I wouldn’t let my daughter be in the town centre after 7pm.”

The borough council entered a partnership with One Maidstone in 2020 which saw The Mall take over the monitoring of CCTV in the town.

Lottie Parfitt-Reid, the lead member for communities and public engagement at the authority, says a review of the area's policy around the cameras is set to take place.

“As a result of our latest CCTV report, we’re commissioning a complete review of the mobile CCTV infrastructure in order to provide options for it," the Tory added.

“But it's just one of the many different ways of tackling crime, and I think we have made positive steps.

“I do get quite frustrated by claims that Maidstone is unsafe - bad news travels around the world 10 times before the truth has even put its trainers on.

"My family are there, my children are still there, it’s where I was born - but right now I feel safer living in London..."

“CCTV is just not the deterrent people think or hope it is.”

Eleven of 14 authorities in Kent increased their use of CCTV over the past four years.

Campaigners argue the rise is “a waste of taxpayers' money”.

A spokesman for civil liberties group Big Brother Watch said: "Blanket, untargeted surveillance has a chilling effect on freedom of assembly and association, and erodes privacy.

“Research shows that surveillance cameras rarely prevent crime, but that too much surveillance curbs our rights and freedoms.

“This huge increase in CCTV is a waste of taxpayer's money. Cash-strapped local authorities should be putting money into supporting residents, not spying on them."

Folkestone & Hythe District Council does not control any CCTV, preferring to give town and parish councils autonomy over the system.

When asked about this, a spokesman for the authority said: “The district council does not operate CCTV. This function is managed by the town and parish councils.

“Approximately 10 years ago the CCTV network was transferred to Folkestone Town Council with funding to cover the ongoing maintenance of the cameras.

“The district council maintains a close working relationship with the town council to ensure effective use of the cameras.”

Statistics for Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council were unavailable at time of writing.

'We are also aware that women and girls in particular feel unsafe in certain areas of the county...'

Assistant Chief Constable Adam Ball, of Kent Police, said CCTV is an "invaluable resource".

He said: "Protecting people from harm is our top priority and we work closely with our partners to ensure our communities feel as safe as possible across the county.

"CCTV cameras are an invaluable resource that not only help us solve crime but also prevent it from happening in the first place, and they have proven especially useful in areas such as town centres where certain offences are most commonly committed.

"We do however recognise the importance of providing a visible policing presence and will soon have the highest number of officers in our history as a result of the national uplift programme.

"Each of our 13 policing districts also have their own dedicated Community Safety Units that regularly patrol areas of concern and work closely with local businesses including pubs, clubs and bars to help them spot potential safety concerns before they escalate, using initiatives such as the ‘Best Bar None’ scheme to promote high standards of customer welfare.

"We are also aware that women and girls in particular feel unsafe in certain areas of the county and at specific times of the day or night, and we therefore remain committed to addressing their concerns and taking robust action against those who may seek to cause them harm. This week alone we arrested two men in separate parts of Maidstone for indecent exposure offences, including one carried out by a plain-clothes officer who was patrolling an area where women and girls had previously reported feeling unsafe.

"We strive to ensure Kent remains a safe place to live, work and visit and we will do everything in our power to ensure it stays that way. Anyone who wishes to report any concerns to us is encouraged to visit www.kent.police.uk/report. Always call 999 in an emergency."