Community safety officers with Police
This month marks one year since the council officially opened its revamped CCTV control room following a £2.3million investment in expanding and upgrading the borough’s CCTV network to clamp down on criminal and anti-social behaviour.
The CCTV cameras have assisted the Barnet Safer Communities Partnership in tackling a range of crimes as well as picking up welfare-related incidents where members of the public were in need of help. The network is also already 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) significantly outnumbering the number of incidents caught throughout the 2023/24 year (106).
Other forms of anti-social and nuisance behaviours – all punishable by the issue of fixed penalty notices as part of Barnet’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) – have also been picked up by the cameras.
The first phase rollout of the CCTV programme is now almost completed, and the second phase will shortly begin. This will increase the capability of CCTV officers to track and identify vehicles and individuals intent on causing anti-social behaviour or committing criminal offences. This month, a mobile CCTV patrol car will also be going live on the streets of the borough alongside a second marked patrol car (pictured outside Hendon Park on Monday 7 October) that can be used to respond quickly to incidents reported in the borough’s streets, parks and open spaces.
Cllr 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 £2.3 million to quickly upgrade and expand a failing CCTV system that wasn't working 70% 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.”
Paul Condren, Chief Inspector of Neighbourhood Policing for Barnet, added: “On numerous occasions over the past year we have found ourselves being extremely grateful for the recent, significant developments within the provision of CCTV coverage by Barnet Council. Whether it be supporting our efforts to reduce and detect serious disorder over the summer, identifying and capturing incidents of criminal behaviour or even locating wanted offenders who had previously evaded capture - the ability to work effectively alongside this long-term valued partner and make use of this first class service has been a huge asset in our local fight against criminality and anti-social behaviour.”
Residents can report any anti-social behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress including street drinking, noise, intimidation and hate crime. These can be made on the council’s website, accessible through My Account at www.barnet.gov.uk or by searching ‘report a problem’ from the homepage. Incidents of fly-tipping can be reported at www.barnet.gov.uk/reportit. Reports should include as much information as possible about the issue, including the exact location and any available images. If anyone is found to be breaching the PSPO they will be issued with an on-the-spot fine of £100.