A CONTROVERSIAL new website allowing citizen spies to plug into the nation's CCTV cameras and snoop from home was launched today.

A 1,000 pounds reward will be on offer each month for the video vigilantes who spot the most crimes.

But civil liberties campaigners say the scheme is "distasteful" and encourages people to spy on each other.

The website is being run by Devon-based Internet Eyes who will stream live footage from shops, businesses and town centres to subscribers' home computers as far away as Australia.

Businesses and other organisations will pay �20 a week or �1,000 a year to have their CCTV system wired up to the site.

Images in real-time are beamed to subscribers, with different scenes being shown on rotation every 20 minutes.

The eagle-eyed viewers click an alert button every time they see something suspicious.

They are awarded one point for spotting a suspected crime and three points if they see a crime being committed - but lose points if the camera operator rules the alert was not a crime.

Those who help catch the most criminals each month will win prizes up to �1,000.

Tony Morgan, who devised the site, claimed: "This could turn out to be the best crime prevention weapon there's ever been.

"I wanted to combine the serious business of stopping crime with the incentive of winning money.

"There are over four million CCTV cameras in the UK and only one in a thousand gets watched.

"Crimes are bound to get missed but this way the cameras will be watched by lots of people 24 hours a day."

He explained: "The subscribers will have access to four screens at the same time and if they see anything suspicious they can press the alert button.

"This then sends an instant text and picture message to the shop assistant or manager - who then makes the decision about what action to take."

People have no choice over what CCTV footage they are able to watch and are banned from viewing footage in their local area.

Mr Morgan added: "The cameras are already there - we just link to them so people can watch them. All you see is the tops of people's heads.

"Internet Eyes has been set up to reduce shoplifting and street crime in this country. It is not entertainment, but a tool for crime-fighting.

"We aren't doing anything wrong, just helping small shop keepers who can't be watching their CCTV systems 24/7."

Mr Morgan said posters would be in place to warn people the business was taking part in the scheme.

More than 13,000 people have already indicated their interest in the project.

The Information Commissioner's Office has allowed the company to launch after it agreed a number of changes including only allowing subscribers aged 18and over.

The company had planned to offer the service for free but the ICO also requested it make users pay a subscription fee - �12.99 annually or �1.99 monthly - so their details can be checked and to prevent voyeurism and misuse of the system.

A spokesman for the watchdog said: "Our practice makes it clear that CCTV operators should use appropriately trained staff to monitor images. We have provided advice to Internet Eyes on its own data protection compliance.

"We will be checking to ensure it has followed this and investigate any complaints we receive."

Costcutter in Newton Abbot, Devon, is one of several stores across the UK using the service during the trial period.

Shop boss Stephen Adams said: "I'm very excited by the prospect of this service which I feel meets my requirements to help me reduce shrinkage, further protect my staff and save me money."

But opponents such as the No CCTV pressure group have major concerns.

Spokesman Charles Farrier said the scheme was a "profit-making gimmick" and added: "The subscribers are not going to spot crime - these are shops and businesses under surveillance, not crime dens.

"There aren't enough checks and balances in place.

He added: "This is encouraging a growing trend of citizen spies.

"If people are so concerned about crime they should contact the police.

"They are hiding behind computer screens and willing crime to happen so they get a prize. It is a game."

One subscriber, Paul from Hammersmith, West London, said he thought it was his civic duty to sign up.

He said: "By doing this, I feel I can help. It will help people feel safe and secure and it's not like putting a camera in your house.

"These are in public places. I hate criminality and if I can help stop it, I will."