Seven new cameras have been installed in York Close carpark in Morden town centre this month, as the Council’s borough-wide £2 million CCTV upgrade programme continues.

The project involves replacing all of the public space cameras to high-definition, as well as upgrading the fibre optic network – replacing the existing 10 to 15 year old analogue network.  The improvements will enable Merton CCTV to provide higher-quality evidence for law enforcement agencies.

Twenty-two new high-definition cameras have been installed in Wimbledon, Colliers Wood , Morden and Mitcham have been upgraded to HD quality so far as part of the programme, which is due to be completed in March 2025.

Currently there are more than 200 cameras monitored 24/7 across the borough. Some of these are located in fixed locations, others are mobile CCTV units which can be flexibly deployed to combat emerging hotspots of criminality and anti-social behaviour.

The Council’s CCTV team works in partnership with police, Safer Merton, Clarion Housing and Love Wimbledon to share information. The Council’s control room at Civic Centre has a direct link to local police via radio, to manage situations requiring immediate attention.

“CCTV is a vital part of our toolkit to mitigate crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough – for example, enabling monitoring staff to alert the police if they spot criminal behaviour,” says Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride.

“CCTV isn’t a silver bullet, but through this investment in our systems and our work with partners, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep Merton as one of the safest boroughs in London.”