CCTV, enforcement and uniformed officers make residents feel safer

Published: Wednesday 7 July 2021

cctv camera on Ken High Street.jpg

CCTV cameras, patrols of police and community wardens and greater enforcement of anti-social behaviour have been revealed as the most wanted measures to keep residents feeling safe in Kensington and Chelsea. More than 480 people had their say on the most important crime and community safety issues affecting them in a survey between March and May 2021.

It comes after a £500,000 investment in CCTV by the Council in the last year, with work started in April 2021 in four new areas to install new cameras. Last year a new Community Safety Wardens team was also introduced tackling anti-social behaviour and supporting residents and businesses to follow safety guidelines during the pandemic. 

Our new CCTV strategy sets out six commitments, including a plan for continued improvements to CCTV and joining up resources across the Council.

Cllr Emma Will, Lead Member for Community Safety, said:

“We know being safe and stopping crime is really important to our residents, which is why we have already invested half a million pounds in CCTV in new locations and our Community Safety Wardens have been providing a uniformed presence in our communities.

“Thanks to everyone who took part in this survey, we now have more valuable insights and feedback which we will use to determine what we need to focus on over the next few years.”

View the full results from the Community Safety consultation.

Key points from the consultation
  • 72% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they felt safe in their neighbourhood during the day
  • 32% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they felt safe in their neighbourhood at night.

Community Safety priorities should focus on:

  • 57% of respondents felt that ‘Anti-social behaviour’ should be a priority
  • 47% respondents felt that focusing on ‘Drugs offences’ should be a priority
  • 35% of respondents felt tackling ‘Violent crime’ should be a priority

Effective ways of reducing crime:

  • 75% said high visibility patrols by police and Community Safety Wardens
  • 56% said increasing CCTV
  • 49% said greater enforcement against anti-social behaviour