Top 5 Cities With The Most CCTV In The UK
The most recent research of the total UK CCTV Camera coverage is estimated to be approximately 7.3 million cameras in the UK as of 2022.
When it comes to reducing crime, the UK College of Policing reports that the usage of CCTV cameras overall has a very strong impact on crime, citing a 13% decrease in crime in places with CCTV cameras compared to those without.
But just what are the cities with the most CCTV cameras in the UK? We’ll be exploring that in today’s article as well as the utility and usefulness of CCTV Cameras.
Most CCTV Cameras Per UK City
Research curated by IFSEC Global gives us a solid understanding of the top 5 cities with the most CCTV in the UK as of 2020. See below for the list of these cities and that compared with the total population.
| City |
CCTV Cameras (Aprox.) |
Total Population (2020) |
| London | 809,000 | 9,304,016 |
| Manchester | 248,000 | 2,730,076 |
| Birmingham | 109,000 | 2,609,437 |
| Liverpool | 82,000 | 901,708 |
| Newcastle-Upon-Tyne | 73,500 | 300,820 (2019) |
From the data, we can see that the city with the most coverage is of course the capital city of the UK, London, with a staggering 809,000 cameras approximately, a sharp drop from the next down on the list which is Manchester with 248,000 cameras approximately, followed by 109,000 in Birmingham, 82,000 in Liverpool and 73,500 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Least CCTV Cameras Per UK City
In comparison, there is also data which shows data for the least CCTV in the UK.
| City |
CCTV Cameras (Aprox.) |
Total Population (2020) |
| St. David’s | 168 | 1,772 |
| Wells | 957 | 11,000 |
| Ripon | 1,500 | 16,000 |
| Bangor | 1,710 | 18,560 |
| Ely | 1,818 | 18,000 |
From the data curated, we can see that St. David’s has the least CCTV Cameras at 168 but also is the smallest city in the UK through the population. This is followed by Wells at 957 cameras, Ripon hosts the third least cameras at 1,500, followed by Bangor at 1,710 cameras, and finally Ely with 1,818 cameras.
High Vs. Low CCTV Camera Numbers
There may be many reasons for the fluctuations between high and low numbers of CCTV cameras in each UK city.
Firstly, it can be said that although an area may have a lower number of CCTV Cameras, it can also have a wider coverage when compared to population – for example although St. David’s only has 168 CCTV cameras, it also has a CCTV camera for every 10 people in the city, giving slightly more coverage than London – with a population of 9,304,016 as of 2020 each camera covers 11 people.
Secondly, it may be that certain cities have lower crime than others so both private companies and law enforcement may not see the need for as extensive CCTV in areas where crime is higher.
In addition to this, certain areas such as Birmingham, London, and Manchester are major business hubs and constantly developing cities with a variety of different businesses and construction sites needing private CCTV Monitoring Services.
This may help to increase the number of total CCTV in these cities. (Manned CCTV Monitoring service has also shown to be effective when compared to unmanned monitoring, reducing crime by 15%)
How Does CCTV Reduce Crime?
As previously touched on, statistics have shown that CCTV cameras help to reduce crime but exactly how does the presence of CCTV cameras reduce crime in key UK cities?
- Reduces the opportunity of crime to take place in fear of getting caught – especially drug related & vehicle & property crime which fall by 20% and 14%.
- Increases the actual likelihood of getting caught which may further deter crime.
- Gives the public a sense of increased security and reassurance in public areas, making it more difficult for crimes to go unnoticed.
In conclusion, in this article, we have explored the top 5 cities with the most CCTV in the UK as well as those with the least CCTV, what this means and how the use of CCTV may help to reduce crime.
If you’d like to learn more about CCTV and its use in security, why not explore all our latest CCTV news in our blog section, where you can learn useful tips for installing CCTV cameras as well as an in-depth Guide To CCTV Security?
Why not also explore the official Region Security YouTube Channel where you can view an eclectic variety of different CCTV and Security Guarding content including this useful video on What Is CCTV? as well as a useful place to stay up to date with all the latest security news, tips & tricks.
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