Leeds expands its CCTV network

A new £1.8 million wireless CCTV system will be deployed across the east of Leeds as part of a 500 strong installation of wireless cameras that will use the cities WiMax network.

The system will monitor 53 tower blocks and sheltered housing schemes for antisocial behaviour and crime.

Councillor Mark Harris, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The new CCTV system will help to enhance and improve the lives of the residents of east Leeds by tackling anti-social behaviour problems in the area. It represents a significant investment by East North East Homes Leeds and puts Leeds at the forefront of technology driven community safety initiatives.”

Use of the WiMax network will give the new system more versatility and enable police to react with greater efficiency to any incidents. Temporary cameras can also be set up to target specific areas as they can connect to the network without any physical cabling. A pilot is now running with 50 cameras, with the remaining expected to be rolled out by late summer.

Steve Hunt, chief executive of East North East Homes Leeds, commented: “The £1.8 million we are investing in this project demonstrates our commitment to improving community safety in the area. Innovation Leeds has provided us with a solution that is much more cost effective than other traditional systems on the market and also allows us a much greater degree of flexibility over where we place cameras and how we operate the system. Because the system is entirely digital it allows us to protect residents’ privacy by electronically masking areas such as windows to prevent images being captured from these areas.”