Inside Havering’s CCTV Control Room: A behind-the-scenes look at the team protecting residents

The Havering Daily was invited into the borough’s CCTV Control Room this week to see first-hand how a dedicated team works around the clock to keep residents safe. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the service monitors key areas across Havering and has become a vital tool in preventing crime and supporting police operations.

Inside the control room, wall-to-wall screens show live footage from across the borough, covering busy shopping areas, town centres and public spaces. Staff explained how their vigilance has led to serious incidents being stopped before they escalated — including spotting people carrying knives, identifying someone with a gun, and working with police and security teams from The Brewery, The Liberty and The Mercury shopping centres. The team also uses the system to identify rough sleepers, so outreach workers can step in to offer help and support.

CCTV plays a central role in Havering Council’s Where We Live campaign, which takes action against crime and aims to deter anti-social behaviour. Earlier this year, the campaign hosted a Crime Summit where residents heard that Havering is one of London’s safest boroughs, but also shared that fear of crime remains high. To help reduce those concerns, the Council and its partners in the Havering Community Safety Partnership have invested nearly £3 million into upgrading CCTV cameras and facilities.

The new control room, based near Romford Town Hall, has enabled the CCTV team to provide even stronger support to the police and council enforcement officers. Over an 18-month period alone, the system picked up around 20,000 incidents — ranging from anti-social behaviour to criminal activity — and provided vital evidence that has led to successful prosecutions.

Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Ray Morgon, praised the team’s dedication: “Our CCTV operators are the eyes of the borough. They work tirelessly day and night to make sure residents, businesses and visitors feel safe. This service is a key part of our flagship campaign, Where We Live, which is all about building stronger, safer communities.”

The Council says its aim is clear: to ensure Havering is a safe borough for residents to live, work and go to school in — and for businesses and visitors to feel secure.

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