And children queuing for presents in Llanelli will be discouraged from the traditional, brief perch on Santa's lap while they whisper to him what it is they want in their stockings.
"It's a sad sign of the times," said Gilmour Jones, manager of the St Elli centre. "But I'm afraid that it was either this or not having Santa's grotto at all.
"Setting up the webcam protects Santa and the children from allegations of abuse."
The Llanelli measures are the latest in an increasing number of precautions which include virtually universal vetting of candidates for such seasonal Santa jobs. St Elli's grotto has been modernised on Neighbourhood Watch lines to give visitors a clear view of the inside.
Mr Jones said: "We've left the Georgian windows clear of decoration so that parents can see clearly what is going on."
Children will find Santa on a double bench with a space beside him which he will tap to steer them away from his lap.
Mr Jones said: "Christmas grottoes as most adults knew them when they were young are dying out, largely because of the problems involved in running them. This is the only one in Llanelli this year."
But the security precautions may change that because of the attraction of being seen on TV. Mr Jones said: "We put the webcam in for peace of mind, but everyone who's seen it thinks it's a cracking idea. Maybe it will catch on."
This is just political correctness gone mad
What kind of world do we live in? 
