CCTV Capitals of the UK: 2022 Report

Using Freedom of Information requests, we asked local authorities to reveal how many CCTV cameras they operate, and how this compared to three years ago.

This report contains the key findings of our study, alongside expert commentary explaining the observed trends.

UK CCTV statistics:

·         There are currently 108,533 public CCTV cameras controlled by UK local authorities - an increase of 14% from 2019 (95,573).

·         Almost seven in ten (69%) local authorities have increased their surveillance, with 16 councils more than doubling their CCTV presence.

·         There is now one camera per 622 people in the UK.

Where is CCTV increasing the most?

While the majority of local authorities have stepped up their surveillance, some are increasing their CCTV figures at faster rates than others.

To see the CCTV statistics for every UK local authority, view the full datasheet here.

Gwynedd Council now operates 363% more cameras than it did in 2019 (468, up from 101)– the biggest rise across the UK – having recently installed multiple static devices in locations where there used to be just one pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ).

The UK local authorities that are increasing their CCTV presence at the greatest speed are:

However, they have a long way to go to catch the UK’s CCTV capitals, with 17 local authorities controlling over 1,000 cameras each.

The London Borough of Hackney is the most surveilled area in the UK, as it was in 2019, and now operates 3,119 CCTV cameras. This is 815 more than its fellow borough Hillingdon, which came in second place.

An expert’s view

To help explain the rising number of CCTV cameras across the UK, and to predict whether these patterns will continue, we spoke to Grant Fulton, CMC Operations Manager at Corps Monitoring.

Why has there been a rise in CCTV cameras in recent years?

“A combination of factors has led to the rise in CCTV cameras. Broadband has become a commonplace feature of our world, with wider-than-ever availability and at increasing connectivity speeds, while the cost of CCTV equipment has reduced significantly over the last decade. And as mobile tech has developed alongside this, having a 3G or more enabled phone has enabled convenient usability at your fingertips.

“With these advancements, we’re also now heavily reliant on captured visuals – our news, our stories, our lives are all captured on video so being evidence driven is the norm. Naturally, when it comes to the people and asset protection, CCTV cameras play a massive role; they are our eyes everywhere all at once.”  

Was the pandemic a factor in this increase?

“Before the pandemic, everyone travelled to meetings. When we couldn’t do that anymore and we were forced to find workarounds, we realised just how much can be achieved when we factor in remote working. This led to a significant number of sites becoming empty overnight and really highlighted the benefit of CCTV monitoring systems to businesses to keep a watchful eye on their assets.”

Do you think this increase is set to continue?

“Yes, as technology continues to advance so will the application of CCTV monitoring systems. Over the next few years, CCTV technology will improve our personal safety, the safety of our homes, businesses, assets, and far more.

“Currently, CCTV is mainly used for heatmaps and people counting but, in the future, CCTV-based facial recognition will be a significant part of our world, carrying major implications for personal device security and shopping."

How can people protect their own homes?

“Put simply, install an intruder alarm in your home, install CCTV and have it monitored by an offsite Alarm Receiving Centre. You’ll have peace of mind that your home is being protected around the clock, no matter where you are. We’ve reached a point where the daily cost for electronic protection and CCTV monitoring services for your home or business premises is affordable and accessible. It makes sense.” 

If you’re looking to protect your home or business, check out our range of alarms, CCTV and safes, as well as our wider selection of locks, safety and security devices.

Methodology:

·         Data sourced from Freedom of Information requests issued to UK local authorities in July 2022.

·         Data was supplied by 308 local authorities.

·         Only cameras controlled by local authorities are included in the study, so private equipment owned by businesses or members of the public does not contribute to the totals.

·         As some local authorities could not supply data for 2019, they were excluded from the research.

·         Population data sourced from Macro Trends.

Worldwide statistics for CCTV cameras per capita sourced from Precise Security