Harrow Council has awarded a contract to DSSL Ltd for the provision and maintenance of the borough's public space video surveillance systems (VSS). The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting on 30 October 2025.
The contract, valued at £1.742 million over 22 months, will ensure the continuity of CCTV services across all wards in Harrow, supporting the council's duties in enforcement, public safety, and anti-social behaviour prevention. The contract runs from 31 October 2025 to 1 August 2027.
Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety, said the CCTV is used for monitoring crime, traffic, and public safety, as well as protecting property and staff.
The council has used CCTV for these purposes since 2018, when the Cabinet approved a competitive tender for a new CCTV control route and infrastructure upgrade. The initial investment in CCTV was prompted by public safety concerns, with the aim of monitoring crime, traffic, and enhancing overall public safety. DSSL Ltd won the contract in August 2022.
The original contract, worth £2.64 million, included a £50,000 annual allowance for ad hoc CCTV-related works over the contractual term. By 2023, demand for CCTV services grew significantly across various departments, such as housing and facilities management, requiring bespoke installations outside the original scope. This surge, combined with inflation, led the Cabinet to approve an increase in the annual spend to £100,000 in June 2023.
A more detailed review subsequently found that the original contract did not anticipate the scale of cross-departmental usage, and the contract value was reached much earlier than expected. In response, CCTV procurement has been centralised, with each department allocated a defined budget to manage future spending. This centralised process and the allocation of departmental budgets are designed to prevent overspending in the future.
The proposed new contract with DSSL will align with the current contract term and run until August 2027, with planned maintenance and optional enhancements subject to capital funding. Procurement will follow the ASPO framework six to eight, ensuring competitive pricing and compliance with public sector guidelines. Legal, financial, and equality assessments have been completed with low risks and mitigation measures in place.
The proposal aligns with the council's priorities of putting residents first, a borough that is clean and safe, and a place where those in need are supported, with CCTV playing a critical role in delivering those outcomes.
