The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has secretly expanded its surveillance network with over 200 new CCTV cameras installed across the borough without public consultation, The Independent can reveal.
Local authorities have been quietly mounting the sophisticated surveillance equipment on lampposts and buildings throughout the affluent neighbourhoods, catching residents completely by surprise. The covert installation programme has sparked immediate backlash from civil liberties groups and concerned citizens.
Lack of Transparency and Public Consultation
Council documents obtained through freedom of information requests show that the local authority deliberately avoided publicising the surveillance expansion. Officials admitted that no public consultation was conducted regarding the installation of these cameras, claiming the equipment was positioned to monitor council-owned land and property.
One council document explicitly stated: "It was therefore not considered appropriate to undertake public consultation." This approach has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates who argue that residents have a right to know when they're being watched.
Civil Liberties Concerns Raised
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, condemned the council's actions: "It's really sinister that a public authority would deliberately hide mass surveillance from the public. The public have a right to know and a right to object to being surveilled."
The privacy campaign group has written to the council demanding immediate transparency about the purpose, capabilities, and legal basis of the surveillance network. Concerns have been raised about the potential for function creep, where cameras installed for one purpose gradually expand to other uses without proper oversight.
Council's Defence and Ongoing Scrutiny
Kensington and Chelsea Council maintains that the cameras are intended to address anti-social behaviour and protect council assets. A spokesperson stated: "We are installing CCTV on our housing estates and other buildings to combat crime and anti-social behaviour, making these areas safer for our residents."
However, the lack of clear public information about camera locations, data storage policies, and access protocols has left many residents feeling uneasy. The Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed they are making enquiries about the surveillance programme to ensure compliance with data protection laws.
This development places Kensington and Chelsea at the centre of a growing national debate about the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights in an increasingly surveilled society.
