Liverpool’s CCTV network tackles over 3,000 incidents in 2024

With 480 CCTV cameras positioned across the city, the network operates 24/7 from a central control room, transmitting live footage through 175km of fibre optic cables.

The City Watch team works closely with Merseyside Police and Merseytravel to respond to incidents as they occur, enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.

Over the last 12 months, they have been involved in dealing with the following number of incidents:

Assaults – 557
Thefts – 472
Anti-social behaviour – 475
Knife crime – 203
Domestic abuse – 186
Missing persons – 177
Criminal damage – 167
Drugs – 159
Begging/street drinking – 141
Flytipping, littering, graffiti – 125

Examples of success include:

A man acting suspiciously was followed on CCTV from Gwladys Street to County Rd, and arrested for burglary and assault on a pregnant woman

A street beggar who had stolen a mobile phone was tracked on CCTV and arrested

A man who had stolen a purse was picked up on CCTV and intercepted by police officers, with the item returned to the victim before she had noticed it was missing. It emerged that the offender was wanted for 13 offences including burglary and breaching bail conditions

Following a report of a man with a knife on Prescot Road, the suspect was tracked on CCTV until police arrived, arrested him and recovered a bladed weapon.

Footage captured by the CCTV network is often used by Council teams to supply evidence in flytipping and taxi licensing offences.

The CCTV network has also contributed to Liverpool’s success in retaining Purple Flag status over the last 14 years, in recognition of the work to make sure the city has a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy.

At a meeting on Tuesday 21 January, the Council’s Cabinet approved a new five-year maintenance and development contract for the CCTV network.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, said:

“Our CCTV network plays a vital role in keeping residents and visitors to our city safe.

“It plays a key role in our hugely successful night time economy, and is one of the reasons why we have had Purple Flag status for more than 14 years.

“It not only helps prevent crimes before they happen, but provides vital evidence to secure convictions when cases come to court.

“The new CCTV maintenance and development contract is vital to ensuring the network continues to be maintained at a high standard, and continues to be an important part of our community safety work.”