A TEENAGE attack-victim has hit out at council chiefs for 'ignoring' a series of petitions calling for Cirencester's CCTV monitoring hours to be reinstated.

Seventeen-year-old Joe Harris was among nearly 1,000 Cirencester residents who signed petitions to see CCTV being manned for 112 hours per week - the level they were at before Cotswold District Council cut them by half in 2008.

Joe was mugged by five men near a CCTV camera in Dollar Street, Cirencester. He says the attack was within range of a camera but on a Tuesday evening and outside normal monitoring hours. As a result the camera was not pointing in the direction of his assault.

Last month Liberal Democrat CDC councillor for Cirencester Deryck Nash handed in three petitions to a full council meeting.

Two petitions - one a written petition and the other a Facebook page - were created and organised by a middle-aged victim of a vicious attack who wished to remain anonymous. Both called for the full-time manning of the CCTV monitoring room.

The third petition was organised by Lib Dem councillors and called for the reinstatement of monitoring hours to 2008 levels.

Cllr Nash said: "The strength of feeling shown by people in these petitions indicates that the general public wants the hours restored."

Joe has championed the issue and has addressed council meetings previously to gain support.

He feels residents' pleas are being ignored.

"CCTV is a deterrent more than anything," he said. "It should not have been cut without public knowledge. I just don't understand why the council won't listen.

"As a victim myself I will not stop raising awareness and I urge residents to join the campaign."

CDC spokesman Bob McNally refuted claims that the council was ignoring public feeling and said the CCTV issue was due ot be discussed on December 13.

• Do you think CCTV monitoring hours should be increased? Have your say below: