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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaron Curran

Merseyside town where you're always being watched

One Merseyside town ranks among the highest in the country for surveillance.

St Helens sits tenth in the UK for the number of CCTV cameras, with the town reporting 64.4 cameras per 10,000 people.

Security staffing platform Get Licensed analysed a series of Freedom of Information requests to reveal where in the UK has the most CCTV cameras, and which areas spend the most on surveillance.

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St Helens is the only area in the North West to feature in the report's top ten, with Hammersmith and Fulham having the highest number of cameras with 100.9 per 10,000.

While the Merseyside town is in the top ten in terms of the amount of cameras, in terms of expenditure St Helens does not make the top 25 areas. The City of London spent the most on installing and maintaining CCTV, totalling £7.05m.

Shahzad Ali, CEO of Get Licensed, said: "Whether it’s on the streets, public transport, in car parks, or any other public space, cameras are a common sight around the UK - with many people also choosing to install them at home too, for extra security and peace of mind.

"While many worry about the increasing installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces, surveillance systems which fully adhere to the UK code of conduct, play a fundamental role in keeping crime rates down across the country, as well as helping the British public stay safe.

"Public surveillance is not intended to invade people’s privacy but to deter criminal activity - by providing physical evidence when a crime has been caught on film.

St Helens has among the most CCTV cameras in the country (Copyright Unknown)

"Installing a security system at home can also help in deterring potential criminals from property vandalism, while also reducing the risk of burglary, with CCTV footage being a crucial piece of evidence during any police investigation.

"Surveillance cameras will provide a solution to many crimes, both in public and private spaces, which is why anyone who is concerned about their property shouldn’t hesitate to install a home security system.”

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