Upgraded surveillance cameras installed for enhanced security in London

This funding for “state-of-the-art connectivity” is part of Khan’s ongoing work designed to deliver new and improved digital public services, while in parallel making London safer for everyone. As part of this major London-wide surveillance upgrade, clearer footage will be captured by CCTV cameras and made available to the Metropolitan Police Service, thereby helping to identify, pursue and prosecute offenders. 

The installations and upgrades have been delivered by the Mayor’s Connected London Programme, which improves full fibre connectivity across hard-to-reach areas in the capital. This also includes the installation of new sensors to monitor air quality, better monitoring of traffic congestion and support for councils to enhance public safety by monitoring town centres and High Streets.

Improved response times  

Merton Council used the investment to upgrade its fibre to support the installation of 55 new cameras. This has enabled the local authority to improve incident response times with partners, increased the reliability of the CCTV network, reduced running costs and assisted with the allocation of extra resources for other community safety initiatives.  

Older CCTV networks are limited by picture quality, range and capability. These upgrades will lead to much clearer images and reduce any delays in Control Rooms. 

Better quality CCTV cameras work alongside an enhanced approach to local neighbourhood policing as part of the New Met for London Plan, which is being supported with investment from City Hall.

The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that the violent crime rate is lower in London than in the rest of England and Wales. Incidents of personal robbery have fallen by 5% in the last year and – thanks to the hard work of the Metropolitan Police Service, its partners and prevention work led by London’s Violence Reduction Unit – burglary, gun crime and knife crime with injury among victims aged under 25 years are all down since 2016. 

The Mayor will continue to work in partnership with London Boroughs, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Service to “bear down on criminality in all its forms” and keep neighbourhoods safe.

Stronger evidence for trials 

Sadiq Khan explained: “As a thriving global city, it’s essential that our capital’s digital infrastructure is kept fully updated. I’m pleased that an investment of £30 million from City Hall is ramping up full fibre connectivity across London.”

The Mayor continued: “New and upgraded CCTV cameras will produce sharper images to help local authorities, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Service to improve safety for everyone after dark and present stronger evidence in criminal trials. I’m committed to working with the police service, partners and businesses alike to improve security in our transport networks, High Streets and town centres and create a safer London for everyone.” 

Commander Owain Richards from the Metropolitan Police Service responded: “We welcome these improvements, which will give our officers the tools they need to crack down on crime and bring perpetrators to justice. The Metropolitan Police Service will continue to work with the Mayor and partners such that we can improve CCTV across the capital and, ultimately, make London a safer place.” 

Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at Transport for London, noted: “It’s great that our work with Boldyn Networks to use our network in order to provide new fibre connectivity across London is already delivering tangible benefits for Londoners. We’re committed to working with London Boroughs to improve connectivity across the city, which will support growth opportunities and help in the delivery of digital technology’s improved usage for all.”

Preventing more crime 

Councillor Edith Macauley MBE, the London Borough of Merton’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, explained: “The Mayor of London’s investment has been vital in undertaking our important task of upgrading Merton’s CCTV network. Transmitting HD video feeds in real-time has resulted in our CCTV operators being able to prevent more crime and respond to incidents on a much faster basis.”

Macauley added: “The Full-HD quality images on our static and mobile cameras, which are monitored around the clock, make identifying crimes and offenders much easier, while the evidence recorded has proven crucial in bringing criminals to justice. This includes our camera operators having been able to alert the police when they’ve recognised people who are wanted in connection with criminality. These upgrades are a key part of our ambition to make sure that Merton remains one of the safest London Boroughs.”    

Theo Blackwell MBE, chief digital officer for London, concluded: “Connected London is making fantastic headway in rolling out fibre across the capital. This latest announcement shows what can be achieved when the capital’s digital infrastructure is improved. Thanks to the Mayor’s leadership in this area, we’re making great progress in improving safety for everyone across the capital.”