Scheme will help tackle issues such as antisocial behaviour, violent crime and environmental crime, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

CCTV camera (credit Enfield Council) — credit Enfield Council

Councillors have agreed final plans to upgrade Barnet’s ageing CCTV network with modern equipment and technology.

The £2.3million upgrade scheme is set to install 562 fixed cameras across the borough, complemented by 20 mobile units and operated by a new control centre in Colindale.

According to a council report, the borough’s existing CCTV network is more than seven years old and in need of replacement. Before the current upgrade began, only 27 of the borough’s 127 fixed cameras were online but all are now fully functioning.

A full business case for the CCTV upgrade was presented to the community leadership and libraries committee on Tuesday (7th). The report states that the scheme will help to deliver on the priorities of the council’s administration by tackling issues such as antisocial behaviour, violent crime and environmental crime.

During Tuesday’s meeting, councillors agreed to kickstart a process that will see the council enter into a contract with BT for the provision and management of a secure CCTV fibre network, in addition to “associated network equipment and services”.

A report states that this will offer “substantially discounted rates” for the service alongside a “commitment to several significant additional social value outcomes”. It adds that BT has agreed in principle to provide a free public and corporate wifi network across 150 of the CCTV sites, which it says would “support economic growth and digital inclusion”.

The full business case reveals that the new control room – designed to take over the operation of the network from the current facility in Enfield – is expected to be up-and-running by mid-June. The full quota of cameras is set to be installed by March 2024.

Barnet Council confirmed that the report was unanimously agreed by the committee.

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