Camden Council invests £1 million to boost community safety officer team

KEY INFORMATION:

• Camden Council is investing £1 million to expand its team of Community Safety Enforcement Officers.
• The total number of officers will rise to 50 to increase visibility across the borough.
• Dedicated teams will be based in Holborn & Bloomsbury, Camden Town, and Kilburn.
• Patrols will operate seven days a week to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental crimes.
• Funding also covers new CCTV cameras and a dedicated Camden Safety Bus.

Camden Council has confirmed a £1 million investment to expand its community safety presence.

The funding will allow for the recruitment of additional Community Safety Enforcement Officers. These teams will focus on deterring criminals and improving public safety in specific hotspot areas.

The investment brings the total number of enforcement officers in the borough to 50. Dedicated town centre teams will be stationed in Holborn & Bloomsbury, Camden Town, and Kilburn. These uniformed patrols will operate seven days a week to address anti-social behaviour and retail crime.

Tackling local concerns

The expanded team will have the power to issue fines for various offences. These include illegal street trading, littering, fly-tipping, and public urination. Officers will work closely with the police to gather intelligence and provide reassurance to the community.

In areas with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), officers may exercise increased powers. The council aims to use these resources to clamp down on drug activity and environmental crimes that impact residents.

Councillor Pat Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe at home or out in the community. This investment means we have more than tripled the number of our on-street visible officers over the last two years – who conduct targeted patrols in hotspot areas to steer away criminals and can be quickly deployed to take action and support our residents.”

More than just patrols

The £1 million funding is not limited to personnel alone. The council has confirmed that the investment will also fund additional CCTV cameras across the borough. Furthermore, a new Camden Safety Bus will be introduced to support local safety initiatives.

Councillor Camron Aref-Adib, Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living, said: “This is a key investment in our budget to keep Camden safe, clean and thriving. We’re prioritising tackling anti-social behaviour, and you’ll see more safety officers out on the streets and rapidly deployable to any area.”

Budget agreement

The funding was officially agreed during the annual budget meeting on Monday 2 March. This move is part of a broader strategy to ensure frontline services remain effective. The new officers are expected to be visible on the streets in the coming months.

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from Council / Local Authority. Document: **£1million investment to expand community safety patrols in Camden Source Link: https://news.camden.gov.uk/1million-investment-to-expand-community-safety-patrols-in-camden/

Related Links:

MORE: Camden Council approves 4.99% Council Tax increase for 2026/27 budget — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/03/03/camden-council-approves-4-99-council-tax-increase-for-2026-27-budget/

MORE: £2m Community Fund: New era of investment for local parks and high streets — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/02/07/2m-community-fund-new-era-of-investment-for-local-parks-and-high-streets/

MORE: Camden Council increases patrols in Kilburn following arson attack at Islamic Centre — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/02/05/camden-council-increases-patrols-in-kilburn-following-arson-attack-at-islamic-centre/