Wandsworth has more CCTV cameras per 1,000 residents than any other borough in London, according to new figures.
The report by consultancy company, IMS Research, shows there are 1,113 CCTV cameras in the borough meaning there are almost four cameras for every 1,000 people living in Wandsworth.
Camden, which places second in the list, has two CCTV cameras per 1,000 residents.
The research also shows the Brighter Borough has the same number of cameras as Dublin City Council, the police departments of Johannesburg and Boston and the City of Sydney authority combined.
Councillor James Cousins, of Wandsworth Council, who previously told the BBC that “residents like CCTV because it makes them feel more secure”, defended the statistics.
He said: “The number of cameras are not the important thing, what is important is how they are used. Most of the stuff we record will not be used again, it certainly won’t be turning up on Police, Camera, Action.
“And, aside from council estates, they are not used in residential areas so they are not looking at what people are doing in private.”
The council were quick to point out that Wandsworth has the lowest crime rates of all the inner London boroughs and that this was because of CCTV.
According to the local authority, CCTV evidence has been used to secure a number of convictions in recent years including a rapist in 2006. Two young children who ran away from home in 2008 were also located after CCTV was used to track them down.
But Mairi Clare Rodgers, of Liberty, said: “CCTV is not a panacea for all ills and anyone linking cameras to Wandsworth’s relatively low crime rate would be better off examining social factors.
“Studies show that CCTV does not deter crime – the most effective deterrents are regular, consistent police patrolling and good street lighting. We urge officials to think again whether placing the borough’s population under surveillance justifies the limited returns.”
How our neighbours compare (Number of CCTV cameras per 1,000 people)
Wandsworth 3.9
Lambeth 2.0
Hammersmith 0.8
Kingston 0.7
Merton 0.6
Westminster 0.5
Richmond 0.5
Kensington 0.4
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