Police today rejected claims their high-profile CCTV "supervans" were hugely-expensive white elephants.

But 18 months after the first £50,000 vans were delivered, a top officer admitted police did not have enough people trained to operate the mobile cameras.

A force insider said: "The bottom line is that we drive around in them to give the impression they are actively recording but they are most certainly not being used for the purpose they were designed."

The bright yellow vans, bearing notices stating "Smile, you're on CCTV", have become increasingly common on Sussex streets.

But in Brighton and Hove, staff had not yet been trained to operate the CCTV system.

The Argus was contacted by a serving officer who claimed the vans were "hugely-expensive white elephants".

He said vans in Brighton and Hove did not carry CCTV tapes, nobody knew how to operate the equipment, one van had a faulty camera and the camera mounted on another van had fallen off.

Sussex Police assistant chief constable Nigel Yeo said: "The vans that were purchased fulfil a dual purpose.

"Not only do they provide a visible and reassuring presence but they have a cell capacity within them that ensures that we can treat and transport detained persons properly.

"The vans also have a CCTV recording and monitoring capacity.

"Since their introduction, there has been a problem with training sufficient numbers of police staff to use the CCTV facility, not only because of the need to balance increased police training against the loss of police staff off the streets but also because the training is complex.

"It is about more than just teaching staff how to use the camera. We also need to ensure that we comply with our own codes of practise regarding the use of CCTV and the retention and storage of tapes.

"There is a comprehensive training package which is being rolled out across the force but this has not yet been implemented in Brighton and Hove.

"Overall, and in particular in Brighton and Hove, the vans have been extensively used and the feedback has been that they have been very effective in combating anti-social behaviour and providing a highly visible presence.

"The training of more staff to use the CCTV facility can only enhance the effectiveness of these vehicles.

"The issue that has been raised about faulty equipment is being dealt with by Brighton and Hove Division."

Ken Bodfish, committee member of the Sussex Police Authority and leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "We cannot have CCTV everywhere and often it's useful to have dummy vehicles.

"They act as a decoy in the same way that speed cameras are not always operating but drivers still slow down. If people think there is CCTV equipment and it acts as a decoy then I don't see the problem.

"I have no knowledge of any faulty equipment but obviously if this is the case then it needs to be investigated.

"CCTV vans have been around for a few years but there is unfortunately always a problem with training for officers to use them. We never have enough people."

In November 2003, assistant chief constable Geoff Williams unveiled the force's first five vans, which cost a total of £250,000.

Each vehicle was equipped with a remote controlled camera, enabling police to use CCTV "wherever and whenever it was needed".

Almost a year ago Sussex Police showed off ten new CCTV vans.

Last December shopkeepers in Queen's Parade, Hangleton, Hove, called for CCTV back-up after a series of robberies and outbreaks of vandalism.

Police Insp Beryl Bacon said: "The mobile CCTV unit spends quite a high proportion of its time in Hangleton and Knoll, which in some ways is better than cameras because it can target problem areas."

But the whistleblower said: "What good is this if the vans have no tapes inside them or any trained operators?"