Staffordshire Police is urging residents to register their CCTV and doorbell cameras as part of a county-wide campaign to help solve crimes.

The Staffordshire Police CCTV Registry campaign - which starts today (Monday 10 August)  - aims to get as many people as possible to register their devices so they can receive alerts when a crime happens at a nearby location.

If a crime takes place near a registered camera, detectives will be able to send an email or text asking the owner to check whether the camera has picked something up that might be useful to the investigation.

Staffordshire Police said the scheme does not give police officers access to the cameras or footage. It allows residents to decide what to share with the police force.

Local policing Chief Superintendent, Victoria Lee, said: "We rely on the community to inform us of issues that are affecting them, and this latest campaign is a further mechanism through which people can support their local policing team in tackling community concerns.

"We know that many people and businesses now have their own CCTV and camera doorbell systems, which can prove to be vital in establishing circumstances around criminality and in some cases, even result in positive prosecutions."

When a crime happens, the owners of any registered cameras in that area will receive an alert containing a link to upload footage from the relevant date and time.

Investigating officers will then be able to see cameras plotted on a digital map, along with any footage provided by registered locals.

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The police force said that personal information will not be publicly visible and participating in the scheme does not mean you will be required to attend court or be involved in the criminal justice process.

Staffordshire Police shared the following recent examples where CCTV footage was used to make positive progress in cases:

• the theft and attempted theft of a number high-value vehicles in South Staffordshire last month
• an assault at a pub in Burslem in July
• the theft of a mobile phone in Stoke-on-Trent in June by a fake online marketplace buyer
• a serious stabbing in Stafford in May
• a racially-aggravated incident in a shop in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the fraudulent dodging of a restaurant bill in East Staffordshire, both in February
• an ongoing anti-social behaviour operation targeting off-road bikes in Stoke-on-Trent.

In another instance, a man recognised himself on a CCTV appeal following a purse theft in Cannock in April, and handed himself in, before being issued with a community resolution.

Ch Supt Lee added: "This is why we are urging everyone who has a camera outside of their property, both at the front and back, to sign up to the scheme and receive alerts.

"You may not think your footage could make a difference, but anything that helps us piece together what has happened when a crime is reported to us can be pivotal in achieving justice for victims and their families as well as protecting communities from harm."

To find out more about the scheme and to register, visit the website here.