North has been awarded a £1.2 million contract to install a new CCTV network for Westminster City Council.
The company 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 specialist 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 and 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 specialist equipment, and has created five new full-time roles for system operators and a CCTV manager.
By working collaboratively with LBHF, it reduces operations costs for Westminster City Council, effectively using public money and allowing the team to gain specialist knowledge and experience.
North also supports this control centre, which was part of a £5 million contract to upgrade its CCTV operations since 2020. LBHF has reported that the upgraded CCTV and control centre has supported more than 500 arrests in 2023.
Andrew Foster, managing director for public services at North, said, “We are delighted to be working with Westminster City Council to deploy leading 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.”
Tony Oliver, head of physical security, at North, said, “By implementing and feeding AI-based audio camera technology into the Genetec advanced security platform, Westminster City Council will operate one of the most advanced CCTV networks in the UK. This is strengthened through its partnership with LBHF which by sharing a control centre, will enable the neighbouring councils to collaborate on insight and resource, which ultimately will further improve safety and accessibility.
“North’s ethos is rooted in making communities smarter and safer, and we’re really excited to welcome Westminster City Council as part of this journey.”
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.
Councillor Adam Hug, Westminster City Council leader, said, “Anti-social behaviour and crime in our communities blights the lives of residents across Westminster and as a Council we want to do what we can to help tackle it. This new local CCTV camera network will help keep an eye on ASB hotspots in local communities across the city, assist the police in identifying wrongdoers and provide the evidence to support work to design out crime.
“The safety of our residents is of utmost importance, and we want to play our part in helping keep our streets safer and to ensure that residents feel more secure in their own homes.”