Cape Town metro police say the city's CCTV cameras play an effective role in nabbing criminals.

More than 260 CCTV cameras are positioned in a number of Cape Town suburbs including Gugulethu, Observatory, Mitchell's Plain and the CBD.

In the most recent incident, seven people were arrested in the CBD and charged with public violence after cameras detected a group fighting outside a nightclub.

"We've got South African Police Services that responds to the camera. We've got the SAPS in the city bowl as well as metro police and law enforcement that are actually very effective where the cameras are situated," said the metro police's Yolanda Faro.