Havering Council has recently invested nearly £3m into upgrading its CCTV network with a new state-of-the-art control room
Havering Council has unveiled a major milestone in its efforts to keep the borough safer and more secure with the opening of a new state-of-the-art CCTV control room near the Town Hall in Romford. The high-tech facility, part of a near £3 million investment, is at the heart of a borough-wide upgrade to Havering’s surveillance network—dubbed the “eyes” of the borough.
The control room is now fully operational and will support the Council’s commitment to community safety by working closely with the police and enforcement officers. As a leading member of the Havering Community Safety Partnership (HCSP), the Council has spearheaded the project to modernise existing CCTV infrastructure and expand its capabilities across key locations.
The new investment forms a key component of the Council’s flagship Where We Live campaign, which encourages civic pride and aims to enhance the quality of life for all residents by making communities cleaner, safer, and more connected.
Over the past 18 months alone, the borough’s CCTV system has facilitated more than 20,000 interventions—ranging from real-time alerts to the police on active criminal incidents, to footage that later supported successful prosecutions in court. These actions have not only increased the Council’s capacity to monitor and prevent crime, but also improved evidence collection in support of enforcement and community policing.
A significant element of the upgrade is the introduction of redeployable environmental cameras, which have proven especially effective in tackling fly-tipping. Nearly 2,000 enforcement actions have already been taken against environmental offenders thanks to the improved visibility and coverage offered by these new units.
The funding model for the CCTV overhaul is notable for its mixed-source structure. The majority of the money has come from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), a dedicated fund for council housing and related services. Additional contributions were drawn from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which is charged on new developments to support local improvements, and the General Fund, which covers other council services.
The new control room is designed to be a hub of technological efficiency and strategic oversight, equipped with high-definition camera feeds, real-time monitoring tools, and improved storage for video data. Its location in Romford was chosen to ensure rapid coordination between council services and emergency response teams.
Council Leader Ray Morgon and Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Cabinet Member for Environment, recently visited the facility to meet staff and witness the upgraded system in action. Both expressed strong support for the investment and praised the team’s ongoing work.
“The work of our CCTV team is so important in helping us and the police to keep our residents and visitors to our borough as safe as possible,” said Councillor Morgon. “That is why we have invested in these new facilities and upgraded the CCTV network to modern standards. It will enable us to take swift action, bring offenders to justice by providing vital evidence, and reassure our communities that we’re committed to safety.”
“The work of our CCTV team is so important in helping us and the police to keep our residents and visitors to our borough as safe as possible.”
-Ray Morgon, Leader of Council
Councillor Mugglestone echoed this sentiment, adding that the project represents more than just a technological upgrade. “This is about confidence, security, and pride in where we live. CCTV is not just a tool for catching criminals—it’s part of how we make people feel protected and valued in their communities.”
The Council has also emphasised that the improved CCTV capability will support more responsive enforcement across the borough, particularly in areas flagged by residents as hot spots for anti-social behaviour or illegal dumping. Residents are encouraged to continue reporting incidents and suspicious activity, which can be cross-referenced with CCTV data in real time.
With its renewed focus on safety, deterrence, and civic pride, Havering’s CCTV investment marks a turning point in how local authorities can use smart infrastructure to enhance the everyday experience of those who live, work, and visit the borough.
