Birmingham Project Champion ‘spy’ cameras being removed

Birmingham spy cameraMore than 200 so-called “spy cameras” installed in largely Muslim areas of Birmingham are being dismantled.

The cameras in Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook, some of which were hidden, were paid for with £3m of government funds earmarked for tackling terrorism.

An independent report was highly critical of the Project Champion scheme and West Midlands Police. The force agreed in December they should be removed and said none of the 218 cameras had ever been switched on.

Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe said: “The work starting today shows that we have listened to what our communities wanted and acted upon those wishes. We accept that mistakes were made and we are keen to learn the lessons that emerged from the review into Project Champion. The removal of the cameras is part of that learning process.”

BBC News, 9 May 2011

See also Birmingham Post, 9 May 2011