Dear Resident, 

I wanted to thank you for helping us reach an important milestone. 

In September, we gave Neighbourhood Watch coordinators early access to our new secure database, so they could add the details of their CCTV and doorbell cameras. 

The new technology allows you to add your home or business cameras to a secure map of CCTV cameras in the West Midlands. 

It means we can quickly identify cameras that may have captured evidence near to the scene of a crime. 

Within seconds, officers can send details of the incident to the owners of the camera, along with a request for them to check their footage. People can then send the images via a secure link helping officers to identify criminals or trace victims and witnesses, meaning crimes are solved faster.

Sending the request fast and replying quickly, helps prevent footage from automatically expiring from doorbell cameras or being overwritten on CCTV systems.

I’m pleased to say that since September, well over 10,000 people have taken just 60 seconds to add their details on our secure database. 

When I met with the project leads earlier this week, they shared how the biggest leap in subscriptions came when we messaged Neighbourhood Watch coordinators. And that’s what I wanted to say thank you and to also to ask that you continue to promote the system to your members. 

Your early access and the feedback we asked you to provide, also identified the anticipated glitches which are now fixed. 

Every year, thousands of criminals are brought to justice thanks to your CCTV and doorbell camera footage.

That’s why we’ve made it easier for people to share their CCTV images with us. 

If you or your members haven’t added their cameras to the system, there’s still time to register via our website. 

All you need is your name, address, email and the number of cameras you control.

The system has already been successful in solving major crimes in Coventry. If people continue to add their details to the map that can only be seen by officers, it will help us solve other serious crimes in other areas of the West Midlands. 

How it works in three steps:

The system does not give West Midlands Police or anyone else access to your cameras or computer. You decide what images – if any – you share with us. 

Your name, address, camera details or any other personal information will not be publicly available on the secure site and investigating officers will only be able to see cameras plotted on a digital map and held on a secure police system, with strictly controlled access.

Sharing your recording with us does not mean you will have to attend court.

As part of the development of this system, we consulted with community groups who, like us, could see the benefits in making neighbourhoods safer and were confident in the system’s security layers. 

West Midlands Police is one of only two police forces in the UK who have started using the system to help solve crime. A version of the system has been used in parts of north America for some time.