However, Mehboob Khan, Labour leader of Kirklees Council, said he would "stand shoulder to shoulder" with local residents to fight the proposed changes at Dewsbury hospital.

BBC: Dewsbury Hospital A&E downgrade plan put to public

"Whether it's tracking down a thug who brutally mugged an old lady, a vandal who trashed a war memorial or searching for a missing child, CCTV plays a crucial role in tackling crime and making people safer, " said Mehboob Khan, chairman of the association's Safer and Stronger Communities Board.

BBC: High-def CCTV cameras risk backlash, warns UK watchdog