Labour Westminster Council is delivering on its promise to make the borough safer for everyone, with a major £500,000 investment in new CCTV across the West End – covering Soho, Chinatown, and Leicester Square.

This bold move marks a clear break from the approach taken by the previous Conservative administration, which controversially shut down Westminster’s original CCTV network in 2016 to save money – leaving key parts of the city without vital security infrastructure for years.

Investing in Public Safety Where It’s Needed Most
Labour’s new investment is the largest CCTV upgrade in Westminster’s history. It includes 18 new cameras in Soho, 14 in Leicester Square and Chinatown, bringing the total to £522,982 across the West End.

The cameras will go live this summer and form part of a wider rollout of over 200 CCTV cameras across Westminster. More than half are already operational and monitored 24/7 by a control centre run in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

This programme is a key part of Westminster’s After Dark strategy, launched by the Labour administration to ensure that residents, workers and visitors can enjoy the city’s nightlife safely – free from intimidation, theft, or anti-social behaviour.

Fixing What the Conservatives Left Behind
When the previous Conservative-run Council chose to turn off Westminster’s CCTV network in 2016, residents and businesses were left exposed, especially in the West End. Labour Councillors campaigned against that decision and committed to reversing it.

Now in office, Labour is delivering on that promise – with a new, modern network that’s restoring confidence, supporting the police, and helping prevent crime.

Cllr Aicha Less, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Protection, said: “Soho, Chinatown and Leicester Square are iconic destinations that deserve to be safe and welcoming for all. “We’ve taken real action where the Tories failed – rebuilding the CCTV network they scrapped and putting safety back at the heart of public policy in Westminster. This is what Labour in power looks like: investment, not cuts. Protection, not neglect.”

A Safer, Fairer Westminster
Whether it’s tackling mobile phone theft, supporting late-night workers, or making sure vulnerable residents feel safe on our streets, Labour is rebuilding Westminster to work for everyone – not just the few.

This is a Council that listens, acts, and delivers.

Labour is proud to lead a Council that puts community safety first. This is just one example of how we’re investing in the public realm – and delivering real results for Westminster’s residents.