THERE are more CCTV cameras in Redbridge than in almost any other London borough.

A survey by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch discovered that out of the 32 boroughs, only Wandsworth has more council-run cameras per head of population than Redbridge.

From their control room in Ilford, council operators have 2.8 cameras to watch every 1,000 people in the borough, and the borough’s total of 668 is the third highest number of any in the city.

Earlier this year, the council's decision to install 11 new cameras along George Lane in South Woodford was met with criticism from local business owners and shoppers.

Joe Federico, co-owner of Little Woodford Cafe in George Lane, said: “If they are going to fine people just for parking for one minute in George Lane it's going to be very bad for business. I can't understand the logic behind it really.

“The council might make money out of fining people but they're going to lose money on rates as you're going to have more empty units because shops will suffer.”

Neighbouring Waltham Forest council has just 74 cameras – or only 0.3 for every 1,000 people, while Newham has 204, which equates to 0.8 per 1,000.

Concern has been raised about the fact that many of the cameras may in fact not be working at any one time, and earlier this month police said that cameras on the Orchard Estate had failed to record the mugging of a man who was attacked by 16 robbers.

Redbridge Council’s cabinet member for community safety, Vanessa Cole, said: “I would say that residents have been the driving force for CCTV. All the surveys conducted for the last four years or so have put crime prevention and the fear of crime at the top of residents' lists of priorities.

"Our CCTV operators are trained to a very high degree and you will know that the borough commander has praised staff in their help in regard to several serious incidents, the murder in Ilford, the culprits were caught within 15 minutes of the incident, saving approximately £45,000 in police time and costs."

A spokesman for Big Brother Watch said: “Local councils across Britain are creating enormous networks of CCTV surveillance at great expense, but the evidence for the ability of CCTV to deter or solve crimes is sketchy at best.”