Leicester City Council has hailed its enforcement car, with a number plate recognition camera. Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “In its first four weeks, the CCTV enforcement car has caught hundreds of motorists flouting parking rules. They will now face a fine, but more importantly receive a strong message that illegal and dangerous parking will not go unpunished.
“We know that camera enforcement and fines can be a very effective deterrent. We are sending the CCTV car out to areas where we know there are persistent issues with illegal parking but no current fixed camera enforcement.
“Councils have a duty to tackle dangerous and illegal parking. We are confident that the new CCTV enforcement will be an effective tool to clamp down on dangerous and inconsiderate parking, especially in areas where there are lots of children and busy traffic.”
In Nottinghamshire, Newark and Sherwood District Council is hailing its new CCTV control room, which monitors about 90 cameras covering mainly Newark, Southwell, and Ollerton. Nottinghamshire Police Insp Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “Having a dedicated CCTV system focusing on this district alone will assist us in responding to more reports as they happen, while also gathering higher-quality footage to support our subsequent investigations.”
Merseyside
Countering fly-tipping, and violence against women and girls, are common uses for local government public space CCTV. Nine Halo Points have been set up as designated safe spaces across Liverpool city centre (pictured). Each offers contact with emergency services via 999 and will be linked to City Watch CCTV. They’re paid for by the Home Office’s Hyper-Local Policing Fund.
The help points date from a a Strategic Threat Risk Assessment done in 2023, which found that VAWG offences are most likely to occur in busy nightlife areas, town centres and high-footfall locations. Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe when enjoying Liverpool’s night‑time economy, and Halo Points are a clear, practical step towards making that happen.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for me, and Operation Halo shows the difference strong partnership working can make. By combining Halo Points with trained VAWG Champions and CCTV coverage, we are strengthening prevention, deterrence, and support, and making it clear that harmful behaviour will not be tolerated.”
About VAWG Champions
Merseyside Police PC Frank Stevens came up with the idea. He said: “These highly visible points provide immediate reassurance and access to support for anyone who feels vulnerable, while acting as a strong deterrent to offenders.” VAWG Champions, launched in late 2025, are venue staff, wearing yellow Halo armbands, trained by Merseyside Police and partners to spot signs of vulnerability, and recognise offender behaviour.
