Revealed: The vast network of CCTV cameras deployed by Rotherham Council

Through a Freedom of Information request the Advertiser has discovered that the authority has invested in everything from drones, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), overt and covert cameras.

The scale of the surveillance network may surprise residents, particularly in areas where persistent fly-tipping remains a problem.

We can reveal that the council has:

- 170 fixed public space cameras across the borough. These cameras are installed within public areas for "the prevention and detection of crime and anti-social behaviour, and to support public safety objectives."

The system is said to be used for general monitoring and is not specifically installed for the purpose of detecting fly-tipping or other environmental offences.

However, should such activity be incidentally captured by the cameras, "the footage may be reviewed and processed in accordance with relevant legislation, council policy, and data protection requirements."

- 386 re-deployable CCTV cameras for community safety and protection functions.

The roll-out of these electronic eyes are temporary and intelligence-led.

Within the last 12 months, 110 deployments of this technology have taken place at hotspots.

The idea was to "deter fly-tipping and illegal dumping, detect offending behaviour, support investigations and prosecutions where appropriate."

- 12 overt cameras in rural locations across Rotherham. These installations are targeted at known and current fly tipping hotspots. Footage captured is used as evidence in criminal fly tipping investigations.

- Five ANP cameras. The council says they are "used for lawful purposes such as traffic-related enforcement and intelligence-led investigations."

- Two drone cameras which are operated in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police. They are used to monitor large areas of council land where

vehicular access is not possible.

- 18 body worn video cameras worn by Community Protection Unit enforcement officers. The unit does not currently operate dash-mounted camera systems in vehicles.

Anti-social behaviour and littering is a problem in many suburbs, including Maltby, Dinnington and Eastwood.

In the latter district - which has rat infestation - locals have taken to Facebook to record daily outbreaks of rubbish dumpings in alleyways and roads, including furniture and foodstuffs.

One posted: "As soon as council clean streets, the tramps are throwing more."

In the last few days in Saint Ann's Road "broken chairs, slabs of concrete, carpet and general rubbish" has been dumped.

Another local said: "Even more depressing at weekend drove past loads of black bin bags food waste...all split open."

And a third sent a message to Eastwood area residents: "Stop blaming the council. These people cost us, the taxpayer, millions. Someone must witness all this going off. Do something about it."

Rotherham Council has repeatedly highlighted CCTV “successes" saying it had a “zero tolerance” for such law-breaking.

In 2022 a fly-tipper filmed dumping waste was prosecuted after CCTV evidence was presented in court. The offender’s van was seized and crushed.

A year later the authority launched a dedicated Mobile CCTV Unit, with cabinet member Cllr Saghir Alam saying residents “feel safer when seeing CCTV”.

However, questions have previously been raised about the effectiveness of CCTV enforcement in some hotspot areas.

The Advertiser previously reported that an Eastwood alleyway ranked among the borough’s worst locations for fly-tipping had produced no CCTV prosecutions in a 12-month period despite being monitored.

Rotherham Council has previously appealed for public help identifying suspects caught on camera after investigations “hit a dead end”.

The incidents suggest surveillance alone has not eliminated persistent dumping in some hotspot areas.