MONITORING crime on Glasgow's streets is "an impossible task".

Each CCTV operator has to monitor 50 screens at Glasgow's surveillance nerve centre in Blochairn.

And the staffing levels were today slammed for possibly hindering the fight against crime.

There are 420 screens, although only 406 are operational just now.

They are watched by eight operators, including one supervisor, during the week. At the weekend, four part-time staff are hired, but that still leaves each person monitoring around 35 screens.

Glasgow MSP Bill Aitken said: "CCTV is a valuable tool against crime and disorder, but is only as effective as the people controlling the screens.

"At Blochairn, it is downright impossible for one person to watch 50 screens and identify trouble or troublemakers."

Brian Smith, secretary of Neighbourhood Watch in Scotland, added: "There is certainly a worry if the number of people monitoring screens proves an obstruction in the way of detecting crime."

But councillor James Coleman, chairman of the body formed to oversee CCTV coverage in Glasgow, defended the current staffing levels.

He said they were "constantly under review", but there had been no complaints from operators at Blochairn. He added: "Staff are well aware of the hotspots and prioritise accordingly.

"The reality is that operators do not sit and watch all the screens constantly - there is a very, very limited chance that something will happen in a particular area while an operator is watching."

Strathclyde Police declined to comment on the staffing levels. CCTV under the Spotlight

By Ross McKinnon MORE than 400 sites in Glasgow now have CCTV - but there is still not a single camera in two of the city's busiest thoroughfares.

A total of 80% of the recorded footage is given to Strathclyde Police to help with investigations, according to figures obtained by the Evening Times today.

Argyle Street, Bath Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street have a combined 17 CCTV units while the Merchant City was recently awarded nine cameras at a cost of £300,000 - more than £30,000 for each.

But Byres Road in the West End and Kilmarnock Road in Shawlands, two of the city's busiest streets day and night, don't have even one camera between them.

Campaigners have called the lack of coverage a "ridiculous oversight" and fear crime is going unpunished.

John Coubrough, who has run Mail Boxes Etc on Byres Road for five-and-a-half years, started Safewatch more than three years ago after complaints about anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

One of the first things the group of shop owners and residents asked Glasgow City Council for was CCTV.

Mr Coubrough said: "It was like hitting our heads against a brick wall. We were promised Byres Road was high on the list of priorities but nothing ever materialised."

He added that the West End and Byres Road are especially busy because of all the pubs and clubs.

He said: "Shops and residents' cars get vandalised - my window has been broken three times. Anti-social behaviour is a big problem.

"I pay higher taxes running Mail Boxes Etc in Byres Road than other franchise owners of the same company in Chelsea in London. In return you expect services but we are not getting that on Byres Road."

Glasgow's 406 cameras are monitored by staff at Blochairn control centre in the north of the city.

Glasgow Community and Safety Services - a partnership between the city council and Strathclyde Police - took over responsibility for running CCTV in March.

Its spokesman said Byres Road and Kilmarnock Road had missed out on cameras because of historical funding reasons.

He said: "When CCTV was being set up, areas covered by old Social Inclusion Partnerships were allocated funding for cameras.

"In non-SIP areas, communities were required to fund half of the money for CCTV. We would work with any community group to get coverage in their area."

Phil Walker, managing director of GCSS, said the firm was shifting resources to mobile units - CCTV vans rather than fixed cameras.

There are currently 15 such units in the city and Byres Road will get one in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Walker added: "Wherever there is a high footfall, such as the city centre or Merchant City, there will continue to be stationary cameras covering these areas.

"In addition to this, on a more local level, we are working with local housing providers and GHA to give suitable coverage in Glasgow's neighbourhoods."

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "Camera locations are based on funding and need.

"Now there is a more mobile approach - cameras can go in on mobile vans and operate in a particular area for a number of weeks until the problem subsides.

"Fixed sites are expensive to maintain and the mobile unit gets more coverage across the city."

Councillor Stephen Curran, whose ward is Newlands/Auldburn, campaigned in the past for CCTV in Shawlands to reassure businesses and residents.

Mr Curran said: "We have had removable cameras that can be attached to lamp posts to cover trouble hotspots.

"However, there is also recognition that problems can become displaced.

"Therefore the use of CCTV vans is also good to target hotspots." There are 406 CCTV cameras in Glasgow. Most of these are fixed with a handful of mobile units which can travel around to trouble hotspots. Here are the fixed cameras; CITY CENTRE Clydewalkway@Dixon St, Jamaica St, Oswald St & Stockwell St Clyde St@Albert Bridge Glasgow Cross Stockwell St@Howard St Argyle St@Glassford St Wilson St@Hutcheson St Ingram St@Glassford St Argyle St@Queen St Clyde St@Dixon St Howard St@Dixon St Argyle St@Buchanan St, Jamaica St & Oswald St Cadogan St@Blythswood St Bothwell St@Wellington St Hope St@Gordon St Renfield St@Gordon St West Nile St@Gordon St Queen St@Royal Exchange Sq Royal Exchange Sq Buchanan St@St Vincent Pl George St@North Hanover St Buchanan St@Bath St plus second one static Hope St@Bath St Renfield St@Bath St West George St@Hope St Sauchiehall St@Hope St, Cambridge St, Pitt St, Elmbank St & The Garage West Regent St@Blythswood Sq St Vincent St@West Campbell St Killermont St@Bus Station Cathedral St@John St & Taylor St Kennedy Path Rear & Front Macleod St@Collins St Castle St@Stirling Rd Lancefield Quay@Lancefield St Argyle St@Brown St & North St Warroch St@Cheapside St Hydepark St (north end) Broomielaw@Warroch St & Oswald St Hope St@Bothwell St Hope St Opp Waterloo St Union St@Renfield St WEST AND NORTH WEST Kelso St Dumbarton Road@LadyAnne St Anniesland Road@Kingsway Shops Plean St Multi Storey Flats Dumbarton Road@Balmoral St, Smith St & Meadow Road Alderman Road Shops Front & Rear Castlebank St Meadowside Quay Rozelle Ave@Talant Rd/Jedworth Ave Jedworth Ave@Jedworth Rd Linkwood Flats No 39 Peel Glen Rd@Ladyloan Ave Kinfauns Drive@Hecla Ave & Dunkenny Sq Dunkenny Sq Hecla Place@Hecla Ave/Dunkenny Rd Water Tower@Kells Place Achamore Rd@Lochgoin Ave Abbotshall Ave@Drumry Road East Drumry Rd East@Dunkenny Rd Drumry Rd Roundabout Linkwood Flats Glenkirk Drive@Bellsyde Ave Linkwood Drive@Southdean Rd Westry Circus Summerhill Dr Kilmun St Bilsland Dr@Emerson St Balmore Rd@Bilsland Drive & Stronend St Saracen St@Balmore Rd/Bardowie St & Allander St Bardowie St@Carbeth St & Ashfield St Keppochill Rd@Carlisle St Lock 22@Maryhill Rd Ruchill Park Egilsay St@Ronay St Scaraway St@Skerry St & Vallay St Maryhill Rd@Kelvindale Rd, Shakespeare St, Garscube Rd & Northwoodside Rd Gairbraid Ave@Guthrie St Mayfield St@Ruchill St Bilsland Drive@Mayfield St Brassey St@Curzon St Peel Glen Rd@Kinfauns Dr Garscadden Rd@Old Drumchapel Rd Trossachs St Back Courts@Maltbarns St Anncroft St@ Trossachs St Hinshaw St@Maltbarns St Ronaldsay St Liddlesdale Road Finlas St@ Carlisle St Endrick St@Keppochill Rd St Kentigerns Cemetery Canalbank@ Lochburn Path Bearsden Rd@Temple Road (lock 27) NORTH GLASGOW Royston Road@Gadshill St, Provanhill St & Brodick St Charles St@Garnock St Roystonhill@Dunolly St & Thrasis St 40 Rosemount St Flats Cloverbank St@Sandmill St James Nesbit St 7 James Nesbit St Stroma St@Forge St Forge St@Forge Place Royston Road@Provanmill Road Opposite 247 Provanmill Road Hogganfield St@Queenslie St Broomfield Road@Roundabout All Saints Church Broomfield Rd Birnie Road@Birnie Court Wallacewell Road@Northgate Road Broomton Road@Northgate Road & Shops Springburn Way@ Carleston Road Atlas Road@Angus St Hawthorn St@Fernbank St, Memel St & Blackthorn St Galloway St@Cairn St EAST END Reid St@Franklin St & Muslin St London Rd@Bridgeton Cross Main St@Bridgeton Cross Abercromby St@Millroad St Green St@Moncur St Stevenson St@Tobago St & Claythorn St Claythorn St@Millroad St Springfield Rd@Sunnybank St Gallowgate@Bain St & Melbourne St Duke St@Bellgrove, Whitehill St & Millerston St Sword St@Reidvale St Sword St Comleypark St Whitevale Flats Sth & Nth Armadale Path@Armadale St Alexandra Parade@Meadowpark St Viewpark Avenue Alexandra Parade@Train Station Walter St@Appin St & Aberfoyle St Gallowgate@Retail Park Stamford St@Law St Barrowfield St@Stamford St Nuneaton St Queen Mary St@Dalmarnock Rd Heron St@Baltic Place Bernard Terrace@London Rd Baltic St Flats Salamanca St@Parkhead Hospital Springfield Cross Helenvale Flats London Rd@Canmore St Glen Isla St@Methven St Maukinfauld St@Rattray St Tollcross Road@Crail St Powfoot St@Beatock St Pharonhill St@Quarrybrae Burgher St@Dechmont St Parkhead Cross Westmuir St@Sorby St Old Shettleston Rd@Shettleston Rd Rigby St@Moorfoot St Carntyne Road@Glencorse St Darleith@Denbeck Shettleston Rd@Kenmore St South Vesalius St@Pettigrew St Caroline St@Quarryknowe St Tollcross Road@Wellshot Road Braidfauld St@Dunira St Nuneaton St@Boden St EASTERHOUSE Fire station@Westerhouse Road Footpath@Rear Of Refuse Dump Easter Queenslie Road@ Footpath Carmaben Road Blairtummock Road@Penston Road Dunivaig Road Easter Queenslie Rd@Blairtummock Rd Cumbernauld Road@Front Of Shops & Rear Of Shops Bellrock St@Ruchazie Place & Startpoint St Longstone Road@Longstone Place Crowlin Crescent@Gantock Crescent Bellrock St@Skerryvore Place & Stepps Road Gartloch Road@Elibank St Ruchazie Water Tower East & West Bartiebeith Road@Easter Queenslie Rd Edinburgh Road@Inver Road Calvay Road@Calvay Crescent Wellhouse Crescent@Dunan Place Edinburgh Road Opposite Aultmore Road Edinburgh Rd@Stepford Sports Field Pendeen Road@Garlieston Road Hallhill Road@Burnmouth Road Wellhouse Road@Wardie Road & Baldovan Crescent Conisborough Road@Gardyne Street Gartloch Road@Shops Westerhouse Road@Aberdalgie Road Lochend Road Near To Baldragon Road & @ Drumlanrig & Dalilea Drive Glenraith Rd Lochdochart Road@Drumlanrig Ave & Dalswinton St Dalswinton St@Dalswinton Path Easterhouse Road@Lochdochart Road Duntarvie Road@Duntarvie Place Aberdalgie Road@Boyndie St Easterhouse Road@Rogerfield Road Main St@South Scott St Main St (Baillieston) SOUTH GLASGOW Barshaw Road@Deanfield Quadrant Gleddoch Road@Rosshill Road & Craigmuir Road Craigmuir Road@Craigmuir Place Barshaw Road@Craigmuir Road Sandwood Road@Penneld Road Selvieland Rd@Kelhead Ave Sandwood Road@Bowfield Dr Potterhill Rd@Lyoncross Rd Levernside Road@Shops Brockburn Road@Lane Brockburn Cres@Netherplace Rd Leithland Road@Kempsthorn Crescent Barrhead Road@Peat Road Cowglen Road@Househillmuir Crescent Nitshill Road@ Shops & Peat Road Boydstone Road@Crebar St & Carnwadric Road Braidcraft Road@Corkerhill Road Barrhead Road@Crookston Road Crookston Road@Raeswood Road Kyleakin Road@Kilvaxter Drive Kilmuir Crescent@Hopeman Road Govan Rd@Elder St & Shaw St Golspie St@Shaw St Burleigh St@Harmony Row Wanlock St@Wardrop St Howat St@Taransay St Govan Cross Craigton Road@Underpass Napier Drive at River Napier Place Clydebrae St@Napier St Crossloan Road@Elder Park St Elder Park St@Langlands Road Crossloan Road@Uist St & Arklet Road Elder Park St@Nimmo St Paisley Road@Paisley Toll Paisley Road West@Cornwall St, Copland Road, Mosspark Boul'd, Hillington Rd Sth, Crookston Road, Berryknows Rd & Walmer Crescent Langshot St@Clifford St Clifford Road@Porter St 15 Ibroxholm Oval Flats 9 Ibroxholm Oval Flats 59 Iona Court Flats Copland Road@Summertown Road Barlogan Avenue@Maryland Gardens Queensland Gardens Flats Brand St@Midlock St Hartlaw Crescent North Hartlaw Crescent South Thurston Road Tweedsmuir Rd Southside Crescent@Handel Place & Malta Crescent Cumberland St@Thistle Terrace Crown St@Old Rutherglen Road Crossbank Terrace Flats Prospecthill Circus@Crossbank Avenue & Prospecthill Avenue Glenmore Avenue Ardnahoe Avenue@Corliach Drive Well Green@Ashtree Road Shawbridge Arcade Pleasence St@McArthur St 12 Riverford Road Flats 142 Shawbridge St Flats 215 Shawbridge St Flats 93 Shawholm Crescent Flats St Andrews Rd@Shields Rd Maxwell Rd@Shields Rd Maxwell Dr Rear of No 18 Kenmuir St@McCulloch St Albert Dr@Kenmuir St Keir St@Leslie St Kenmuir St@Nithsdale Rd Drakemire Drive@Raithburn Avenue Carmunoch Road@Arnprior Road Ballantay Road@Scarrel Road Ballantay Road@Hoddam Terrace Tormusk Road@Hoddam Avenue Hoddam Ave@No 59 Dougray Avenue Flats Stravanan Rd Nr Stravanan Court Stravanan Road@Dunagoil Road Machrie Drive@Machrie Road Woodhead Rd@Resource Ctre Kennieshead Rd@Railway Station Woodhead Rd@Wiltonburn Rd & Council Depot Weensmuir Rd@Whitehope Terrace Woodhead Rd@Lane to Underpass Helen St@Robert St, Loanbank Quad Nth & Sth, Edmonston Dr & Opp Howdens Yard Crossloan Rd@Harmony Row Ardencraig Quad@No 16 & Ardencraig Dr Ballantay Rd@Tormusk, Ballantay Terr & Footpath Tormusk Rd@Croftfoot St GLASGOW PARKS Glasgow Green@West Boat House, Greendyke St, Charlotte St, Pathways, Suspension Bridge, East Boat House, Templeton St & Doulton Fountain Four at Victoria Park Four at Kelvingrove Park Springburn Park@Rockery Two at Alexandra Park Five at Tollcross Park Bellahouston Park@Bowling Green, Play Park & Gate to Paisley Rd West Springburn Park@Pond Elder Park@Statue Kings Park Maxwell Park Govanhill Park Rosshall Park Haughburn Play Park King George V Park@Basketball Court & Play Area