New CCTV control room up and running

Upgrades to Wirral’s existing CCTV network have been brought in, overhauling the system with the latest technology to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Upgrades to Wirral’s existing CCTV network have been brought in, overhauling the system with the latest technology to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

More than £1m has been spent on a new CCTV control room, 34 new camera installations and upgrades at 112 existing sites.

The first phase – funded by the Home Office as part of the Safer Streets Initiative and Town Deal Accelerated Grant – is already complete with a new control room fully operational with a state-of-the-art digital video management system installed and 24/7 monitoring of the CCTV network. Safer Streets two is almost complete in Seacombe and Birkenhead with the third and final phase to replace all remaining analogue cameras across the borough already underway. A partnership of Wirral Council, Merseyside Police, the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside successfully bid to the Home Office for the funds.

Liscard Town Centre is also benefitting from two additional CCTV cameras on Liscard Way thanks to funding from Liverpool City Region, as well as a new CCTV camera which is being installed in the area around the new Pump Track in Central Park.

The new and improved cameras are all designed and manufactured in the UK and have improved image quality which will help increase detection of crime and convictions from CCTV evidence. The cameras also use less power than the previous analogue models, reducing their carbon footprint.

All CCTV columns will have the capacity to provide a network connection for any device requiring access to the internet such as air quality sensors, public address systems, Wi-Fi hotspots or traffic counters providing further savings and opportunities to the Council in the future.