(L-R): Andrew Foster, Managing Director – Public Services, North; Cllr Rebecca Harvey, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, Hammersmith & Fulham Council; Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council; Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and Neil Thurlow, Director of Public Protection, Hammersmith & Fulham Council
North is helping Westminster City Council create safer communities through the deployment of a new CCTV network. As part of a contract worth £1.2 million, North is initially deploying 100 cameras across the city to support the Council’s campaign against anti-social behaviour and crime.
The new CCTV cameras feature audio and noise detection AI technology. This will alert operatives to loud noise complaints, ensuring real-time responses to potential incidents and providing immediate access to supporting footage.
The new surveillance system will feed into and be monitored at Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s (LBHF) control centre, with Westminster City Council investing a further £150,000 to support the collaboration. This includes investment made into new equipment and has created five new full-time roles for system operators and a CCTV manager to drive community safety.
By working with LBHF, it reduces operations costs for Westminster City Council, effectively using public money and allowing the team to gain knowledge and experience. North also supports this control centre, which was part of a £5 million contract to upgrade its CCTV operations since 2020.
Andrew Foster, Managing Director for Public Services at North, said: “We are delighted to be working with Westminster City Council to deploy public space CCTV technology that will create safer and smarter environments for residents. This flagship project is a great example of collaborative working between local authorities, with the new CCTV network feeding into Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s innovative control centre.
“Enhanced public space CCTV is a vital intervention in the effort to make public spaces safer to live in and visit. The project serves as a prime example as to how Westminster City Council is making effective use of resources whilst prioritising the safety of its residents.”
The new surveillance system will be the first time Westminster City Council has run its own public realm CCTV cameras since 2017 when the previous network was closed and one-off capital funding was given to the Metropolitan Police to acquire its own cameras. While police-run cameras will continue to monitor pan-London hot spot areas in the West End and Covent Garden, the new council system will concentrate on addressing problems that most affect local people.
