BRADFORD Council is proposing to invest £975,000 to improve and extend its CCTV infrastructure, including a plan to bring high-tech cameras to Ilkley.

The local authority currently operates over 450 CCTV cameras across the district that are used to help prevent crime and protect public safety. These are currently predominantly in Bradford city centre and were installed in the 1990s.

The investment outlined in the Executive’s budget proposals for 2020/21 will be used to bring the current system up to date and roll it out more widely.

The Executive is keen to deliver new cameras for Ilkley town centre, which isn’t currently covered by the CCTV system.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Renewal of the council’s current CCTV system is long overdue with many elements being outdated. This investment seeks to ensure that CCTV coverage in the district can be sustainably maintained for the future. We are also determined to extend the coverage to benefit Ilkley, where it can support the work of the BID (Business Improvement District) and the police in reducing antisocial behaviour and retail crime.

“Our operators work with the emergency services including the local police and council wardens to deal with incidents in both the city and surrounding town centres and West Yorkshire Police have reported that our CCTV control room staff have supported them in a range of investigations through the collection of vital evidence to piece together movements of victims and suspects of crime.”