Sandwell Council has delivered a major upgrade to the CCTV network in West Bromwich town centre as part of a wider effort to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and improve how safe people feel.
The new investment has replaced 30 ageing cameras with new high-definition, wireless technology, providing sharper images, improved reliability and wider coverage across key crime and ASB hotspots.
The enhanced system will play a vital role in identifying offenders, supporting police investigations and deterring criminal behaviour. The upgraded wireless network will also reduce costs with footage sent securely to Sandwell Council’s CCTV control room.
These improvements directly support Sandwell’s Community Safety Strategy 2022–26, which prioritises tackling crime and ASB. They also respond to findings from the Sandwell Residents’ Survey, which revealed that some residents feel unsafe in West Bromwich town centre during the day, and a higher proportion feel unsafe at night.
The new CCTV system aims to address these concerns, improving both actual safety and perceptions of safety across the town centre.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community at Sandwell Council, said: “We’ve listened to what residents are telling us: people want to feel safe in West Bromwich. These new high-definition cameras will help catch offenders, deter anti-social behaviour and give the community greater confidence that their safety is our top priority.
“A similar project in Wednesbury is already delivering strong results with significant reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour across the town centre.”