Fear of attacks at New Street and Bullring led to anti-terror spy cameras
Funding for controversial surveillance cameras in parts of Birmingham was approved because police feared terrorist attacks could be carried out at New Street Station and the Bullring shopping centre, it has been revealed.
The terrorism risk to the city was highlighted when West Midlands Police Authority was asked to approve funding for the cameras, which have been placed in predominantly Muslim areas of the city.
The details of the threat emerged at a meeting of the police authority last week when officers were asked whether or not there was still a terrorism risk to the city.
West Midlands Police has promised to remove some of the cameras in the Washwood Heath, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and Moseley areas of the city after widescale condemnation that there hadn’t been proper consultation with the community.
The cameras were installed in April by the Safer Birmingham Partnership after West Midlands Police received £3 million from an anti-terror fund controlled by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Police Authority member Jean McEntire said: “In 2007, when we approved the funding for this programme I remember clearly that this was counter terrorism money.
“It was also very clear that there was an identified risk for Birmingham and on people who pass through Birmingham New Street and the Bullring.
“If we are removing the cameras does it mean that the risk has gone, or was the original assessment not correct?”
Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe, of West Midlands Police, who is now in charge of the project, said: “We are in a different place to 2007 and we have a private security document outlining the current intelligence.
“Our role now is to constantly review the intelligence.
“Going forward, if it’s an appropriate tactic to use cameras then we can use them in the future to fight crime.
“The covert cameras will not be operational. We cannot give a timescale for removal at this stage, but this is at the top of the agenda. We will get some independent advisers in to provide evidence of any removals.”
Angry residents have demanded the complete removal of all 218 surveillance cameras including 72 covert cameras.
Two weeks ago Ms Rowe told angry residents that mistakes had been made by West Midlands Police and she said she was “truly sorry.”
