Mobile cameras will be implemented in fly-tipping hotspots in Harrow as part of a crackdown after incidents spiked by almost a third across borough. 

Harrow Council plans to deploy 15 new mobile cameras, the council revealed at a cabinet meeting.

It is hoped that CCTV will help tackle the rising number of incidents occurring in Harrow, with cases rising by nearly 30 per cent last year.

Between March 2021 and March 2022, there were 2,180 more incidents than the year before – growing from 7,622 to 9,802 – figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed.

At a recent cabinet meeting (February 16), portfolio holder for environment and community safety at Harrow Council, Cllr Anjana Patel, said: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping anti-social behaviour across Harrow.

“The technology for these cameras will enable live monitoring through the new modern CCTV control centre at the hub.”

She added: “Deployment will be based upon the issues and evidence associated with fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour via both the police and council teams, and engaging with the community, neighbourhood groups, and ward councillors.”

The plan is outlined in the council’s Corporate Plan, which was signed off by the cabinet at the meeting ahead of being voted on at full council on February 23.

Cllr Peymana Assad told the cabinet that there were hiccups after 16 cameras were deployed in the past.

Asking for assurance that ward councillors would have a say on their locations, she said: “There were certain problems with that because some of the cameras were placed there for three months and by the time councillors told residents about them, the cameras would be moved.”

Conservative leader of the council, Cllr Paul Osborn, explained that, ultimately, the final decision would rest with council officers and the cabinet member responsible for the delivery.

He said: “I would hope that ward members and officers will be able to agree on the place where it should go.

“We do have quite a lot of data now about where the fly-tipping hotspots are.”

Similar schemes are being implemented across the UK, most recently seen in Watford.

Watford Borough Council said this month that four locations in the town have been identified to install 24/7 CCTV and tackle rising issues.