WESTMINSTER Council has spent more than £11million on CCTV in the past four years – more than nearly any other authority.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, the authority was the second highest spender on installing, operating and maintaining cameras in the country, behind only Birmingham City Council. Westminster spent £11.8m between 2007 and 2011, despite having just 158 cameras.

The figures were obtained by privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, whose director, Nick Pickles, said: “In too many cities every corner has a camera but only a few ever see a police officer. There is no credible evidence that more cameras will reduce crime, yet councils have poured enough money into CCTV in just four years that would have put more than 4,000 extra officers on the streets.”

The council said the money it has spent on CCTV includes a new control centre at the Trocadero centre and a camera upgrade programme, completed in December at a cost of £500,000.

Robert McAlister, the council’s city co-ordination manager, said: “It’s about quality not quantity. We monitor and record all images and maintain the system over 24 hours, 365 days a year, ensuring it is working at its highest possible level.

“The system can help us take action as incidents occur, such as the recent Oxford Street stabbing.”

The council also said it will reduce the number of cameras monitoring roads by the end of the year, reducing costs.