A HOME Office minister, campaigning for Labour in Thanet South, has called for CCTV to be installed on the Whitehall estate.

Meg Hillier, 41, who introduced the photo ID cards for migrant workers in England and Wales, spoke to a small group of mums last Thursday.

When the Hackney and Shoreditch MP heard that there was no CCTV on the estate, she said: "I come from an area with one of the highest levels of social housing, and these estates have CCTV."

One resident told Mrs Hillier that a neighbour had her back door kicked in twice and the police took two hours to respond.

She added: "These kids have got nothing to do but wander around the estate. No one seems to do anything about it."

Another frightened resident described a gang of 15 boys, some carrying knives, parading along Nixon Avenue threatening people.

Mrs Hillier said: "It sounds like Kent people could do with some advice from specialist police who tackle these problems in London."

Thanet South candidate Stephen Ladyman, 57, said: "There has been an incredible effort over the past few years by local residents, who really care about turning their neighbourhood around.

"We desperately need a community centre for the people of Whitehall, and I'm convinced the recreation ground could be a beautiful asset rather than the problem it is at the moment, given the right investment by the council."

Mrs Hillier said: "I'll be taking an action plan back to the Home Office, and I'm sure that quick solutions including better youth provision and new security cameras could make a real difference to the lives of residents."

Chief Inspector at Thanet Police Mitchell Fox said the problems on Whitehall estate are nothing like the problems in Hackney, where gun crime rose by 29 per cent compared to last year. He said "CCTV does help in city centres, but it may be less effective on the estate. Of the 6,170 people we surveyed in Northwood only 10 per cent raised concerns over antisocial behaviour."