CCTV chief agrees clearer reporting over camera benefits, amid councillors’ concerns

By John Baron

Leeds CCTV chiefs have agreed to provide clearer information about how cameras are used on ‘outer’ West Leeds and whether they are effective.

WLD reported in June how councillors on the Outer West Community Committee has approved a £13,000 funding bid from LeedsWatch to maintain closed circuit television cameras for the coming year. LeedsWatch is a CCTV and security service offered by Leeds City Council, providing monitoring and security services at various public locations. 

But councillors called for better reporting of outcomes so they know money is being well spent.

At last night’s Outer West Community Committee meeting, LeedsWatch service manager Zahid Butt told councillors that all incidents are monitored 24-7 and that footage can be provided when the police request it. He said staff monitoring the cameras log all incidents.

Cllr Kevin Ritchie raised concerns that several previous efforts to better communicate with councillors – some dating back to 2017 – had fallen away. “How can we be assured that the information we are requesting will be consistent moving forward?” he asked.

Mr Butt agreed to provide more regular feedback to councillors on how effective the cameras are in detecting crime or anti-social behaviour. He said he now had back office staff who would be able to provide better reporting.

Cllr Craig Timmins (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) raised issues about anti-social hotspots in communities, and was was told the council did have temporary cameras they could install.

Councillor Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey) raised ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour at Pudsey Bus Station.

Mr Butt said: “We will contact the police immediately if the incident is serious enough.” He also said issues would be pro-actively referred to Metro if they have staff there, and all issues are logged for Metro to access.

Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) was unable to attend the meeting but has asked Mr Butt: “I understand that across the 14 cameras in the Community Committee area we pay a significant amount in service charges annually. 

“We are between a rock and a hard place. I certainly don’t want to see the cameras taken away, because we will never get them back if incidents do escalate, but I think we are paying an unfair amount.”

The meeting heard the community committee paid around a sixth of the actual costs to run and monitor a camera for a year.

The meeting agenda can be found here.

The Outer West Community Committee is made up of councillors from Bramley & Stanningley, Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey wards.