A round-up of some of the recent developments in local government use of public space CCTV.
In Surrey, while Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is retaining 22 CCTV cameras in ‘key town centre locations’, mainly in Redhill and Reigate, by proposing to spend £130,000 on new ones, it plans to decommission the other 43, out-of-date, public realm CCTV cameras elsewhere in the borough, at a cost of £57,000; including ‘removal of poles where they are identified as causing an obstruction’ according to a report to councillors.
Some background
In 2017 Surrey Police asked its local councils to take over its monitoring of public realm CCTV. The police ceased monitoring public realm CCTV when Reigate Police Station closed in October 2023; due to the finding of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Hence Reigate council set up local recording facilities for CCTV cameras in 45 town centre locations, by way of a recording chip. In January 2024 the council discussed a petition which included a call for the council to reinstate monitored CCTV in its town centres. The council referred the petition to its executive. Some 39 cameras in parks and car parks got upgraded in 2023.
The 22 cameras due to be also replaced, at a cost of £130,000, are in locations where police data shows they are likely to continue to be of benefit to community safety, the council says, quoting Surveillance Camera Commissioner guidance. The council noted the borough has ‘significant’ private CCTV coverage through privately owned cameras, besides mobile recording devices, such as mobile phones and dashcams. A review of the borough’s town centres in late 2023 confirmed some 450 private CCTV cameras which had some coverage of public spaces. The police stated that most of their images come from these private cameras rather than public CCTV. Live monitoring of the cameras, in a report to councillors, was ‘not recommended’. The report noted Surrey Police have committed to paying towards the running costs of local CCTV from late 2024.
Richard Biggs, Council Leader said: “We want people to be safe and feel safer and we recognise that CCTV can play a part in this. The proposal is for 22 new and upgraded cameras in town centre locations where they are most likely to be needed. These will be in addition to the 39 new cameras that were installed in the council’s multi-storey carparks and Lady Neville, Memorial and Priory parks last year, bringing the total number of our upgraded CCTV cameras to 61.
“Council officers have worked with the police to review the most recent data showing where CCTV images are most likely to be requested and where there is less alternative coverage from privately-owned cameras such as mobile phones and dash cams. Importantly, these recommended locations will also make sure we comply with relevant data protection legislation and guidance.
“The new cameras, like the ones installed last year, would record high quality images that can be available to the Police and other parties on request to support evidence gathering and prosecution. The evidence does not justify that live monitoring is reinstated and the Police have no plans to reopen their CCTV control room.”
The remaining now out-of-date cameras are rarely used and do not meet the ‘pressing needs’ test required by the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, the council added. The report stated that 13 older public realm CCTV cameras had remained in situ but were ‘not operational’.
One year on from Barnet Council in north London officially opening its revamped CCTV control room after a £2.3m spend, a second phase is running.
The CCTV cameras are having an impact on catching fly tippers in the act – with the number of incidents (139) caught on CCTV in the first quarter of the year (April to June 2024) outnumbering the number of incidents caught over the 2023/24 year (106). A mobile CCTV patrol car went live on the streets of the borough alongside a marked patrol car that can be used to respond to incidents reported in streets, parks and open spaces.
Sara Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resident Participation, said: “Keeping Barnet Safer is a top priority for this council. We invested a vital £2.3m to quickly upgrade and expand a failing CCTV system that wasn’t working 70 per cent of the time. We really welcome the difference this is making for police partners in combatting crime and for our community safety team who are working hard to ensure public spaces are safer and cleaner for everyone. Year on year improvements are already being made from our significant investment in CCTV.”
Kent towns
In Kent, Sittingbourne and Sheerness town centres have newly installed CCTV cameras.
Swale Borough Council have nine new public space CCTV cameras as part of their Safer Streets project which aims to tackle antisocial behaviour, and violence against women and girls (VAWG). Six pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras have been installed, five in Sittingbourne and one in Sheerness, monitored 24-7 by the council’s CCTV control room. Making up the nine are three rapid deployment cameras, typically to counter fly-tipping (pictured, signage outside Sittingbourne). Richard Palmer, chair of the community and leisure committee, said: “Our CCTV control room works incredibly hard to monitor the borough’s cameras, and have had success stopping anti-social behaviour and helping catch and prosecute criminals. Adding to this network of cameras will undoubtedly help keep people safe, and it is the communication between our officers and Kent Police, through Swale Link, that makes these resources so effective.
“The rapid deployment cameras are also great for responding to emergencies or adding security to locations that start to see more crime, it allows us to have a pair of eyes anywhere in these town centres.”
