Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber today (02/10) joined local authority partners and Thames Valley Police to officially launch a new countywide CCTV control room in Abingdon Police Station

The new arrangements form part of the PCC’s Thames Valley CCTV Partnership. District councils in Oxfordshire have transferred their public space CCTV to Thames Valley Police, with significant investment from the PCC and ongoing local authority funding to enhance the provision across the county.

Communities across Oxfordshire will benefit from improved crime detection and prevention following the launch with upgraded CCTV technology and equipment, expanded camera coverage and enhanced monitoring capabilities.

Matthew Barber said: “I am pleased to have brought partners together to deliver this programme as part of our shared mission to keep communities safe. Neither police nor councils have statutory responsibility for CCTV and so this collaboration is essential to ensure high quality, consistent and sustainable provision across Oxfordshire.

“This partnership approach has already proven successful in other areas of the Thames Valley, delivering efficiencies, providing stability of service, and supporting policing on the ground.

“The benefits are clear. In addition to a modernised more effective system, we can expect closer links with frontline officers and police control rooms to help prevent crime, catch and convict criminals and ultimately increase people’s feelings of safety in our public places.”

The programme includes all public space CCTV in Oxford City, West Oxfordshire, Cherwell and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council areas with significant upgrades to parts of the camera network.

Eight CCTV Operators and one Supervisor will be employed in the Abingdon Control Room, monitoring cameras across the whole of Oxfordshire from one location increasing opportunities to react to live incidents and stop crime as it is taking place.

Technological advances will also see CCTV integration with existing police systems to help support investigations, enable officers to access footage remotely, and share high-definition images across the force area more easily.

Superintendent John Batty from Thames Valley Police said: “This new CCTV Hub is a significant step forward in how we work with partners to keep people safe across Oxfordshire.

“Using a collaborative approach has enabled us to strengthen our CCTV arrangements in Oxfordshire, in addition to maintaining a service that is up to date, fit for purpose and effective.

“The improved technology and increased resilience of the system will help us prevent crime, protect vulnerable people and gather valuable evidence to help keep our communities safe.”

Cllr Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I am proud that this Council helped take a lead in setting up the newly launched Oxfordshire CCTV Hub. The new hub promises great benefits in terms of helping prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and it will make an important contribution to safety in our West Oxfordshire market towns.”

Cllr Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for a Safer Oxford, said: “For more than 25 years, Oxford City Council has invested in public space CCTV, recognising the vital role it plays in protecting residents, businesses and visitors.

“Today, more than 90 public space CCTV cameras operate across Oxford, providing extensive coverage of key locations throughout the city. We are proud to be a member of the Thames Valley Police CCTV Partnership, working closely with policing and district councils to tackle crime, assists in support of missing person, provides reassurance to local communities and enables partners to coordinate rapid responses to incidents and emergencies as they unfold. By joining the Partnership, we are strengthening our commitment to community safety and helping to ensure that Oxford remains a safe, secure and welcoming city for all.”

Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Thames Valley Police through the Thames Valley CCTV Partnership. The new hub will help provide a modern, resilient CCTV service that supports communities across South Oxfordshire.”

Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Communities at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when local authorities and policing partners work together. The new hub will strengthen CCTV provision across the Vale and help ensure the service remains effective and sustainable for the future.”

The Thames Valley CCTV Partnership has been operating successfully in Milton Keynes and Slough since January 2024.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is open to discussing the Partnership with other interested local authorities. Thames Valley Police will continue to support local authorities who have not yet joined, working closely with them and their CCTV operations. 

From left to right: Phil Martin (West Oxfordshire District Council), Cllr Helen Pighills (Vale of White Horse District Council), Cllr Nicola Borkmann (Cherwell District Council), Superintendent John Batty (Thames Valley Police), Cllr Lubna Arshad (Oxford City Council), Cllr Georgina Heritage (South Oxfordshire District Council), Matthew Barber (Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley)