Camden Council is continuing its CCTV upgrade programme, with 68% of estates now equipped with the latest surveillance technology.
The update was presented at the Camden Town District Management Committee meeting on 26 November 2025, outlining the progress of the project across 54 estates. According to the DMC update on CCTV - November 2025, 37 estates have been fully upgraded, while six estates (11%) are currently undergoing works. Two estates (4%) are scheduled to begin works shortly, leaving nine estates (17%) where upgrade works have not yet commenced.
The DMC update on CCTV - November 2025 does not name the specific estates where upgrade works have not yet commenced, but it does state that 9 estates (17%) are in this position.
The programme has successfully installed 536 cameras to date, representing 87% of the original total number of cameras across the estates. The council anticipates that a total of 900 cameras will be installed by the time the project is completed, a 46% increase on the initial camera volume. This figure of 900 cameras is also the council's estimate for the total number of cameras to be installed by the time the project is completed.
The increase in camera installations is attributed to the conversion from partial to full coverage on estates that previously had limited surveillance, and the identification of additional areas within estates that now require CCTV coverage to meet operational and safety needs.
The council is currently working on compiling and analysing statistical data to evidence the impact of the CCTV upgrade programme. This includes comparing figures before, during, and after the upgrade, with the aim of determining whether there has been a measurable reduction in responsive security proactive patrols, resident callouts, and requests from Community Safety, Housing and Police relating to anti-social behaviour and crime on estates.
The council acknowledges that statistics, whether increasing or decreasing, aren't inherently good or bad, and that their interpretation depends heavily on context, intent, and impact. For example, an increase in reported incidents could be negative, but it might also reflect improved reporting mechanisms, greater resident trust in the system, and proactive CCTV monitoring and escalations due to enhanced CCTV systems and improved coverage.
It was noted in the DMC update on CCTV - November 2025 that the duration of delivery has extended and as such annual price increases on labour and material has impacted the budget. The council is calculating at present the required budget to complete the remaining estates and will work with finance to secure funding.
