CCTV van and £3.2m investment to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour

A CCTV van has launched in Tower Hamlets as well as a £3.2million investment to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Funded by the council, the state-of-the-art van is completely mobile, allowing it to be sent to ASB and crime hotspots across the borough.
Inside, a number of cameras watched by trained operatives film a 360 degree view of the area. High definition, zoomed in images can be sent to the police to support them in bringing criminals to justice.
The cameras also have infrared and thermal technology, enabling images to be captured in complete darkness.
The CCTV vehicle is also fitted with speakers and a system allowing the video to be streamed to the council’s control centre and the police.
Lutfar Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“Crime prevention, tackling anti-social behaviour and investing in CCTV are top priorities for this council as we understand the negative impact they can have on our communities.
“We encourage people to report all anti-social behaviour to the council, as this intelligence will enable us to send the CCTV van to the areas it’s needed most.”
Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Lead Member for Safer Communities, added:
“This CCTV van is the latest part of our armour in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. It is a fantastic piece of equipment which will make a real difference to the lives of our communities.”
Andy Port, Neighbourhood Superintendent for Tower Hamlets at Met Police, said:
“The Police and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets work extremely hard to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour that matters so much to our communities. This significant investment is one of a number of brilliant examples of our joint commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
The van was launched in Chrisp Street Market on 7 July, where Cllr Ahmed joined Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs), local police and the council’s ASB officers.
The CCTV van is in addition to a £3.2million upgrade of CCTV across Tower Hamlets, which will see every camera updated with digital technology. These cameras will capture better quality images, making it easier to share them with police and other partners. So far 30 cameras have been upgraded as part of the programme, with the rest to be completed by autumn 2022.
Over the coming months, several other initiatives will be rolled out to help prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour, including a Safer Surgeries bus, where people can find information and support, as well as report any issues.
The council will also be launching knife amnesty bins across the borough. These enable people to dispose of knives safely, helping to take the number of dangerous weapons of our streets.