Following a visit to the CCTV Control Room at Woodside House, Lib Dem crime and community spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken and Crouch End Cllr Dave Winskill have expressed frustration that shortcomings in the CCTV system adopted by Haringey Council have still not been resolved six years after installation.

The cameras were installed in the Broadways of Crouch End and Muswell Hill two years ago following pressure from residents and Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill as well as traders in Crouch End.

However it has taken Haringey Council years to get the cameras online and to date many still remain unusable. It is a similar story in Green Lanes and Seven Sisters.

Among the problems with the cameras are:

Crouch End: 1 of the 7 cameras doesn’t work at all and three others provide very poor images. CCTV cameras at Hornsey Town Hall and the Library are not connected to the system.

Muswell Hill: 1 camera doesn’t work at all and 1 other camera provides poor images.

Green Lanes: cameras have been out of action due to a bus colliding with the transmitter station.

Seven Sisters: cameras have been moved to overcome problems with the signal.

The system has not been formally accepted by Haringey from its contractor because around 40% of the cameras either do not provide usable pictures or do not work at all due to the poor nature of the analogue signal from the sites to the aerials.

Council officers have been trying to resolve the problems with the cameras, which were funded by the Home Office, but Lib Dem Spokesperson Ron Aitken has written to the Lead Member for Community Safety suggesting that it is time to consider legal action against the contractor.

Cllr Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“Clearly the Police and Council have tried to resolve these problems. However the public have a right to question whether they are getting value for money and a system that works properly to detect crime and provide reassurance to the community. The Council needs to take urgent steps to ensure these shortcomings are addressed.”

Cllr Winskill (Crouch End) adds:

“There are some Alice in Wonderland contractual issues here – money was handed over to the supplier before the system was signed off. They seem to have lost interest in it. I shall be asking Lynne Featherstone MP to approach the Home Office to see if they are still on any approved list. On the basis of this saga, they shouldnt be!”