Slow Start for Romford CCTV Replacement Scheme

Havering Council’s £5million CCTV project makes little progress.

17:32 10 August 2021

A report released last year, which prompted the launch of the scheme, showed that 177 out of the 406 council-owned cameras were faulty. 18 of which are in Ramford town centre and another 151 in housing areas. The council has since earmarked an estimated £5million of their 2021/22 budget to replace all the borough’s cameras with a new digital system. 

 

Julie Chandler, the council’s assistant director of civil protection, has revealed that the project has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic while presenting before the crime and disorder subcommittee last August 5. 

 

She told councillors: “Our position at the moment is not a lot further. It’s going to be probably quite a long process, although 18 months may not sound that long to some people.

 

“We are still undertaking a lot of investigation work on where the cameras will be located [… it] needs to be data-led and have a clear purpose, we can’t just put cameras where we think they might be good. 

 

“We are also in the process of considering options for the relocation of the control room from Mercury House. The facilities we have now are incredibly cramped.

 

“Certainly what we will need to do is maintain a CCTV system while other work is going on, we do not want to leave the borough not covered.”