About the Citywatch scheme
The economic well-being of a city inevitably depends upon attracting people into the City Centre whether to shop, to visit the theatre, cinema or museums and other leisure attractions, to dine out, or simply to look around and meet friends.
Crime was on the increase and it became essential for Birmingham to consider ways of deterring would-be criminals and, more importantly to create a “feel safe” factor in the city centre.
A trust was created under the presidency of Lord Howell PC. Birmingham Citywatch Limited, founded in 1989, is a company limited by guarantee and Citywatch Trust is a registered charity. The business of Citywatch is administered by a Steering Committee with representatives from the private sector, retail and professional sectors, the City Council and West Midlands Police.
The committee was charged with the responsibility of raising funds by way of memberships and sponsorship. Within 12 months Birmingham had pioneered the first City Centre closed circuit television system financed primarily by the private sector together with a grant from the government to support safer cities.
Citywatch pioneered the introduction of closed circuit television (CCTV) to monitor the streets of the City Centre to reduce crime. The current scheme consists of 45 colour full pan tilt and zoom cameras linked back to Steelhouse Lane Police Station. The scheme has been used as a model for other schemes across the country and in Europe.
Redvers Hocken, the Principal of Redvers Hocken Associates who have designed in excess of 35 town centre CCTV schemes, has provided technical support to Citywatch for almost 17 years.
> For more information please see the Citywatch Website