ADDITIONAL security measures have been installed at Minehead Harbour to crackdown on anti-social behaviour, including a webcam which allows boatowners to keep check on their craft from the comfort of their own homes. A new CCTV camera has been put in to cover the area around Quay Street, Quay Street West, Culvercliffe and the general harbour itself. A spokesman for West Somerset Council said another CCTV camera has been installed in the Summerland Road Car Park in Minehead. And a webcam has also been hooked-up to beam live images through the website http://www.mineheadharbour.co.uk">www.mineheadharbour.co.uk, allowing both locals and tourists a glimpse of harbour-life as and when it happened. When planning permission was given for the new camera at the harbour, district councillors were told the area had suffered an upsurge in drunken behaviour and boy racers. A council spokesman said: "West Somerset Council has recently installed an extension to the public space surveillance system in Minehead to provide coverage of the town's harbour area. "This is in addition to the 18 other cameras in Minehead and the 12 cameras recently installed in Watchet. "These cameras capture recorded images, which are also monitored by police volunteers at key times, which are of major benefit to officers when investigating offences in or near all these locations." The harbourside CCTV unit, which was given the go-ahead by the district council's planning committee earlier this year, has been put up outside Minehead's harbour master's office. Planning committee members were told there had been a rise in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents, ranging from youths throwing rocks into the harbour to general rowdy behaviour and noisy drunks, as well as 'boy racers' speeding along Quay Street. The town's CCTV co-ordinator Keith Wigglesworth said: "It has been decided that the siting of a CCTV camera in the area would help combat the problems currently being caused. "The camera would also assist the policing of special events held in the harbour area, in particular the annual raft race and harbour festival." The camera has been put on a 5.2 metres-high steel column. Planning officer Sue Keal acknowledged the site was within the Quay Street conservation area, with several listed buildings nearby, including The Quay and the Old Ship Aground pub. But she said it was not considered that the installation would have any significant impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area as there was an existing VHF antenna - which would be relocated - and a further pole and aerial beyond the harbour master's office. The Minehead Boatmans' Association had called for improved monitoring and vigilance following a number of incidents over the past year or so. The association said the area was "vulnerable" and that members had had problems with broken glass and rocks in their boats, while locks and windows had been smashed. Councillors said the CCTV unit would improve the quality of life for local residents and protect property within the harbour. "The webcam allows free and open access by the public to be able to view the harbour area in Minehead," said the district council spokesman. "The webcam is available via the Minehead Harbour website at http://www.mineheadharbour.co.uk">www.mineheadharbour.co.uk and the number of visits and the home locations of the visitors to the site has already demonstrated the popularity of this service. "The webcam is also being welcomed by the owners of boats in the harbour as it allows them to keep a weather eye on their craft from the comfort of their homes."