The leader of Harrow Council admitted there is an “ongoing problem” with CCTV in the borough – but noted that the entire system is set to be revamped.

Cllr Graham Henson responded to questioning at a cabinet meeting last week, where he agreed that the council’s CCTV infrastructure is out of date.

He explained that reliance on outside bodies such as BT, as well as antiquated equipment, meant that, at times, it is ineffective.

“I’m not fully satisfied [with our CCTV],” he said. “If you look at our current infrastructure, it’s an ageing analog system that requires frequent maintenance to keep it operational.

“Due to its age, some of the equipment can be difficult to repair and, sometimes, cameras will be out of action or removed from servicing.”

Cllr Marilyn Ashton, deputy leader of Harrow Conservatives, argued that this could have negative consequences as important evidence was going unrecorded.

She noted a situation in Dennis Lane, Stanmore, where a faulty camera missed a speeding car smashing through a width restriction.

“It’s good that we’ve got investment and so on, but on these smaller scale projects we’ve got to have our cameras connected and we can’t be in a situation where residents think there is a camera there that isn’t,” she said.

Cllr Henson explained that a £1.6 million upgrade to the CCTV system – agreed by the council in September – would bring Harrow “into the digital world”.

He added that this, combined with development at the council’s depot, would then “serve residents to the correct standard”.