Harrow cancels fines without bodycam proof from 1 September

Harrow Council will cancel all fines issued by enforcement officers unless bodycam footage supports them, starting 1 September. The decision follows the dismissal of two officers who turned off their cameras before threatening a man on Northolt Road in June. The council said any fixed penalty notice served without corresponding footage will be invalidated.

New team starts with stricter camera rules

A new enforcement team, recruited specifically for Harrow by Kingdom Services Group, will begin patrols on 1 September. The team will operate under stricter conditions, including mandatory bodycam use for all public interactions. Cameras will now have pre-record enabled, capturing the 30 seconds before the record button is pressed.

Kingdom Services Group must audit at least 40% of all footage for the next six months. Weekly oversight meetings between the council and the contractor will monitor performance. The council said these measures aim to strengthen transparency and accountability in enforcement operations.

Incident led to suspension of enforcement

The council suspended all enforcement operations with Kingdom Services Group in June after footage emerged of two officers threatening a man. The incident, filmed on the man’s Meta glasses, showed one officer saying, “When I’m not in uniform, I’m gonna knock you the f*** out and rip your teeth out.” The officers were sacked following an investigation.

How residents can report concerns

Harrow Council has set up a dedicated complaints form for residents to report concerns about officer conduct. The form is available on the council’s complaints and compliments webpage under ‘Enforcement Officer Conduct’. The council said all reports will be reviewed, including available bodycam footage, and clear errors will be escalated to senior officers.

The council said the new enforcement team will work alongside its in-house team to address anti-social behaviour, particularly during the autumn and winter months. Cllr Osborn said the increased visibility of officers would help deter offences and support local communities ahead of Bonfire Night and the festive season.