Barnet installs 27 new CCTV cameras to target crime hotspots
Council says real-time monitoring will help police secure more prosecutions for antisocial behaviour and drug offences
Incident → evidence → outcomeBarnet Council is installing 27 new mobile CCTV cameras across the borough this month, bringing the total number of redeployable units to 60. The council already operates nearly 900 static cameras. The new installations are part of an ongoing upgrade programme that began in 2022.
The cameras are monitored in real time from a control room accessible to council community safety officers and police teams. Two CCTV-equipped vans also operate across the borough, providing additional coverage. The council said the system is designed to improve response times to incidents.
Locations chosen using crime data and resident reports
The council said the new cameras will be placed in areas where intelligence indicates antisocial behaviour and crime are occurring. This includes graffiti, fly-tipping, shoplifting and drug dealing. Locations were selected based on data from multiple sources, prioritised by need and potential impact.
Sara Conway, Barnet Council’s cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said the cameras are part of a sustained effort to improve safety. She credited the system with helping police catch more offenders and secure prosecutions. Conway also thanked residents for reporting incidents, saying the council uses these reports to target enforcement.
“I’m really pleased to see these cameras being installed, it’s the latest phase in our comprehensive and sustained plan to upgrade and expand CCTV across the borough which we started in 2022.”
What happens next
The council has not specified which neighbourhoods will receive the new cameras. It said locations will continue to be reviewed based on crime data and resident reports. The control room and vans will remain operational 24 hours a day, with footage available to police for investigations.
Questions this report answers
01How many new CCTV cameras is Barnet Council installing?
Barnet Council is installing 27 new mobile CCTV cameras this month. This increases the total number of redeployable cameras in the borough to 60, alongside nearly 900 static cameras already in place.
02Where will the new CCTV cameras be placed?
The cameras will be installed in areas where the council has intelligence of antisocial behaviour and crime, such as graffiti, fly-tipping, shoplifting and drug dealing. Locations were chosen using crime data and resident reports.
03Who monitors the CCTV cameras in Barnet?
The cameras are monitored in real time from a control room accessible to Barnet Council community safety officers and police teams. Two CCTV-equipped vans also provide additional coverage across the borough.
04How does the council decide where to place the cameras?
The council uses crime data and resident reports to identify priority areas. Locations are selected based on need and the potential impact on reducing antisocial behaviour and crime in the borough.
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