Hundreds of CCTV cameras catch crooks in Sandwell round-the-clock operation

Sandwell Council revealed today that it has 720 cameras, with more than 400 of those positioned on high-rise blocks, in town centres and outside businesses. Many are watched around the clock by a 26-man surveillance team.

The cameras led to the reporting of 3,466 incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour over the last financial year, with footage often passed to police for convictions and public appeals.

During the same period, the cameras helped officers make 94 arrests, including one attempted murder, 17 assaults, 16 burglaries and 12 robberies.

They also resulted in two cars being seized and 11 people arrested for criminal damage. One person was apprehended for child abduction.

In total, the surveillance team handed over CCTV footage to West Midlands Police on 107 occasions.

Today, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, deputy leader and cabinet member for neighbourhoods said: "Our CCTV system is a valuable tool in the fight against crime and in helping keep our buildings and people's homes safe."

"Many of these cameras were put in at the request of residents or businesses to make their lives safer and help them feel more secure.

"Our CCTV systems help deter crime and anti-social behaviour, catch offenders and improve safety and security for our residents and tenants.

"We have 460 cameras covering town centres and 2,000 flats and tower blocks. We monitor these cameras from our central control room.

"The rest of the cameras are site-based CCTV used to monitor our council buildings, cemeteries and libraries.

"In 2013-14, our control room captured 3,466 crime and anti-social behaviour incidents using our CCTV and handled 122,000 intercom calls from tenants and their visitors."

The council is considering expanding the CCTV system, with officers thinking of positioning cameras on every single high rise block in the borough. This would be rolled out over the next three years.

As well as alerting emergency services, the team also used speakers on 834 occasions to respond to incidents such as street drinking, fights and illegal parking.

Among the crimes caught on CCTV were the riots in West Bromwich town centre in 2011. Footage showed people hurling bricks and pushing over a van.

Meanwhile, seven years ago, Kevin Fairweather was jailed after he was shown on CCTV firing a gun in West Bromwich town centre.

And CCTV footage of the night 16-year-old Ben Morutare was fatally stabbed outside Smethwick Home Guard and Old Comrades Club on Oldbury Road in Smethwick were used in a resulting trial two years ago.

Two youths were also caught on CCTV trying to break into a car in Whitehouse Avenue in Wednesbury last year, resulting in a police appeal.

And CCTV stills captured the moment a Chinese lantern landed on Jayplas recycling factory in Smethwick two years ago and a lorry driver driving through a level crossing in Cradley Heath four years ago.