AN ESTATE plagued by crime and antisocial behaviour is set for a new lease of life thanks to a new CCTV network.

The Windmill Park Estate in Southall has been given seven new cameras as part of a wider push to cut down on offences and make it a safer place for residents.

The camera network was officially unveiled on Tuesday, when the ribbon was cut by Mariyan Abdi Rahman, whose brother was murdered on the estate five years ago.

Yasin Abdi Rahman was just 22 when he was beaten and stabbed to death by gang members who wrongly believed the university student was from a rival gang. He had no affiliation to gangs of any kind. Four people were jailed over the killing.

Catalyst Housing Group is responsible for setting up the network.

Area manager Ian Scott said: “One of the things that people have been saying to us for many years is that they want to feel safe where they live.

“This CCTV will help deliver part of that but we’re also doing a lot of other things on the estate. We’ve been working with the police on a number of issues and since 2008 we’ve had four problem families evicted.

“This sends a good message to everyone living here. We’ve also invested in a community centre here with £50,000 of lottery money, as well as a youth club for young people.”

Sergeant Gary Bruguier, who works with the Youth Offending Service based at Acton, said: “What I’m hoping this will do is give police added powers to get evidence and stop people committing offences.

“This is part of a bigger thing that we are doing, which is to help people living on this estate, in particular young people, by getting them into employment and education.”

Windmill Park is just one site in the Ealing Estate Project, a multi-partner initiative between Catalyst, Ealing Police, Ealing Council and the Youth Offending service, which was launched last year to improve the borough’s housing estates.