9:01am Thursday 14th August 2008
By Miriam Craig
Crime, antisocial behaviour and parking problems are to be tackled with a major cash injection into closed circuit television systems.
More than £600,000 will be spent on CCTV cameras and monitoring equipment after the funding was agreed on Friday.
New cameras will go up across the borough in Edgware, Colindale, Friern Barnet, Child’s Hill, Barnet and Temple Fortune.
As well as the prevention and detection of crime, they will be used, to monitor traffic flow and levels of parking, to identify broken street furniture or litter problems and to help in the case of a widespread emergency.
However, the investment plans, agreed by Barnet Council’s cabinet resources committee, could still be subject to review following criticism from opposition councillors.
The Labour group is concerned that some areas where CCTV is most needed have been left out of the plan and is asking for the decision to be referred back to the cabinet for reconsideration.
West Hendon will not benefit from the investment, despite having the 11th highest number of residential burglaries in London last year, at 16.86 per 1,000 people.
Julie Johnson, Labour councillor for West Hendon and spokeswoman for crime and community safety, said: “I was surprised West Hendon wasn’t on the list. Clearly there have been a lot of problems there, particularly on the Hyde estate, with burglary and antisocial behaviour, and I have asked for extra CCTV cameras in the past.
“I don’t dispute there’s a need in the wards that have been picked out, but if West Hendon has been left off, how many other wards might also have been? The way the wards have been assessed is very suspect.”
The council insists thorough research has been carried out to identify those areas where cameras are most needed.
A council spokesman said: “Before putting in CCTV, all areas are assessed, looking at crime levels, environmental issues and those raised by residents. The council looks to install CCTV where it will have the maximum long-term benefit, and the decisions on where to place the cameras were taken following a detailed analysis.
“The council has a mobile CCTV unit which is able to be deployed in areas where there is a problem with a particular issue.”
Superintendent David Tucker, of Barnet police, welcomed the investment.
He said: “When cameras are properly targeted they deter offenders, reduce the level of crime and increase the feeling of safety for those using our public spaces.
“The introduction of additional CCTV cameras in these streets in the borough will help police identify and bring to justice those concerned in crime. ”
The £609,000 cash boost will buy 16 new cameras as well as fund improvements to the council’s CCTV control room to the tune of £45,000 over four years.
But critics argue there is no evidence to suggest the cameras are effective in deterring criminals.
Gardi Vaswani, chairman of Barnet Green Party, said: “We give limited support to these cameras. But it raises all sorts of questions.
“Do they really prevent crime, or do they just push it into other areas? We have to look at the causes of crime, support our communities and have plenty of police on the streets in our town centres.”
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