{"id":1857,"date":"2026-02-08T07:08:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T07:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cerberussecurity.co.uk\/?p=1857"},"modified":"2026-02-10T17:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:08:15","slug":"cctv-usage-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/cctv-usage-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many CCTV Cameras are in the UK? CCTV Usage in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV surveillance is a vital security asset for many homes, businesses and public spaces throughout the UK.\u00a0 It is used to streamline safety checks, protect properties when they are uninhabited, and monitor movements. But how many CCTV cameras are there in the UK?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsia.co.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">British Security Industry <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsia.co.uk\/\">Association<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0(BSIA) reported that there are approximately <span class=\"numbers\">21<\/span>\u00a0million\u00a0<span class=\"caps\">UK<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"caps\">CCTV<\/span> surveillance cameras are in operation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>This is a big jump from the 7.5 million recorded back in 2013 &#8211; so the numbers are growing. This number also depends on which website you visit as the number of CCTV cameras in the UK varies.<\/li>\n<li>There are approximately just under 1 million CCTV surveillance cameras in London, with the vast majority used by the private sector.<\/li>\n<li>Manchester has approximately 250,000 cameras in operation with Birmingham operating over 100,000 and Liverpool following with 82,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>How CCTV Is Used Today<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We often think of CCTV as something you&#8217;d see at a bank or a retail park, and used to record potential criminal activity. However, with technological advances throughout security solutions, it is far more diverse:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automatic triggers can activate a security response instantly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Movement capture can identify regular footfall, bottlenecks and busier trading periods to help managers plan their workforce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body temperature detection can be used as an essential health and safety measure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Private CCTV systems are installed in homes to help owners keep an eye on their property when away, identify when they have a visitor, or even make sure their pets are behaving themselves!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Road traffic cameras can record live footage of accidents, dangerous driving or speeding offences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As these applications expand, and we all become more familiar with tech such as video doorbells and connected home entertainment systems, CCTV has transformed from a corporate security device into something integral to our daily lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The History of CCTV Usage in the UK<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV was first developed back in the 1940s, designed to capture footage of rocket launches during WWII with early commercial systems available to businesses in 1949.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the devastation of the 9\/11 attacks in 2001, it was recognised as a vital strategy to deter and prevent crime. CCTV cameras can be adapted to multiple uses, including infrared night vision, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/technology\/security-intelligence\/facial-recognition-cameras\/\">facial recognition<\/a>, and smart sensors to pick up any suspicious movements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surveillance has come a long way over the last 70 years:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solar-powered batteries mean engineers can fit CCTV solutions in even the most remote locations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High power lenses can capture movement at broad distances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pictures can be live-streamed, in high definition colour, rather than grainy black and white.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV footage can be accessed securely via an app on a smartphone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiny cameras can be installed in almost any location, and swivel to pick up movements at any angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Many CCTV Cameras are there in the UK?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsia.co.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">British Security Industry Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0(BSIA) reported that there are roughly 7.5 million cameras in the UK which is around one camera, for every eleven people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days, cameras provide a fast, cost-effective solution for many businesses and domestic users.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is cheap to run, flexible, takes very little time to fit, and can be set up to record on any number of activations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whenever you have an asset, a property, or an event where there is any risk, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/cctv-monitoring\/\">need to monitor activity<\/a>, CCTV is one of the lowest-cost options, and substantially more affordable than a full-time security presence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifsecglobal.com\/video-surveillance\/bsias-bigger-picture-report-underlines-growing-use-of-video-surveillance-for-business-operational-purposes\/\">BSIA estimates<\/a> that there are now somewhere between four and six million CCTV cameras in the UK. That means between 16 and 24 cameras for every square kilometre.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aithority.com\/news\/top-10-countries-and-cities-by-number-of-cctv-cameras\/#:~:text=China%20has%20at%20least%20200,5.2%20million%20CCTV%20Cameras%20each.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">comparison<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">China uses more CCTV cameras than any other country, with an estimated 200 million systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US has around 50 million CCTV cameras in place.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Germany, there are approximately 5.2 million CCTV installations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s worth remembering that, while being under surveillance might not sound appealing, there are strict rules about responsible CCTV usage. Therefore, in most cases, if you are going about your day, there is little chance that any recordings will be made, or stored. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What CCTV does do is make us all safer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a significantly reduced risk of criminal activity, where signage indicates the presence of CCTV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public transport is safeguarded, roads are monitored, and emergency services can respond faster, and more appropriately when they can see exactly what is happening in real-time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For your business or home, a CCTV system acts as a preventative, defending your property from break-ins. And, should an intrusion occur, you&#8217;ll be able to assist the police with tracking down the criminals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>CCTV in London and Other Major UK Cities<\/h2>\n<p>CCTV coverage is often discussed at city level because large urban centres tend to have denser camera networks than rural areas.<\/p>\n<p>These figures are still estimates, though, since most cameras are privately owned and there is no single official register.<\/p>\n<p>In London, the total is commonly cited at just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/how-many-cctv-cameras-are-there-in-london\/\">under 1 million CCTV cameras<\/a>, with the majority operated by the private sector rather than local authorities.<\/p>\n<p>This includes cameras used by businesses, transport operators, and private property owners, not only public space systems.<\/p>\n<p>Other major UK cities are also frequently cited with substantial numbers of cameras in operation. For example, Manchester is often estimated at around 250,000, Birmingham at 100,000+, and Liverpool at around 82,000.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth treating city totals as directional rather than exact, since different studies count different types of devices.<\/p>\n<p>Some figures focus on traditional CCTV systems, while others include newer video security like smart doorbells and connected cameras, which can shift the totals significantly.<\/p>\n<h2>CCTV and Police Usage<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as in any private setting, there are regulations around the use of CCTV by the police.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are rules about storing CCTV, which we&#8217;ll explain later, but if you do capture footage that may be used in a criminal investigation, it&#8217;s essential to allow the authorities access to this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police forces in the UK may request your CCTV footage &#8211; for example, if they are investigating a crime, believe that your cameras may have captured a particular person or vehicle, or if your systems overlook an area where suspicious activity has occurred.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This applies to both homeowner CCTV systems and commercial business CCTV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you refuse access to your CCTV, the police can demand this with a search warrant &#8211; although in most cases this is never required, since a private CCTV owner will be happy to assist in official police enquiries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Information Commissioner&#8217;s Office publishes a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/for-organisations\/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources\/cctv-and-video-surveillance\/guidance-on-video-surveillance-including-cctv\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV Code of Practice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> around the police usage and scope of CCTV surveillance, including how the forces can identify individuals, and privacy protection rules for other footage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you have been filmed on CCTV as a passer-by, and that footage is later used in a criminal investigation, your face, number plate or any images that might identify you must be blurred out.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What are the Rules of CCTV?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are considering installing a CCTV system to protect your home or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/cctv\/\">commercial CCTV system for your business<\/a>, it&#8217;s essential to understand the regulations, mainly around data protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can review the full guidance online, produced by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property\/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surveillance Camera Commissioner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but to summarise the most important rules:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must inform neighbours, or neighbouring businesses, that you are installing CCTV, and put up signs that advise people that live recording is in place.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must only use the footage captured for the identified purposes; i.e. protecting your property from criminals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You cannot record staff at a place of work in most cases &#8211; and they must be aware of the CCTV system, when, where and why it is in operation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data protection rights apply. Therefore, if somebody requests access to CCTV footage in which they are identifiable, you may need to permit this, and\/or destroy the footage depending on whether it is required for any other purpose.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV captures that relate to a crime should be shared with the police.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must delete recordings regularly. There isn&#8217;t a specific rule about when this should be, but typically you should not retain surveillance for more than 30 days.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These rules are there to protect privacy and ensure that CCTV isn&#8217;t used for anything other than its stated purpose. So you can install cameras outside your home for safety reasons, but cannot secretly film your neighbours, for example.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You can also reference the <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/media\/619b7b50e90e07044a559c9b\/Surveillance_Camera_CoP_Accessible_PDF.pdf\">Surveillance Camera Code of Practice<\/a> when discussing responsible surveillance principles and expectations, particularly where systems cover public space or are used by public authorities.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As digital <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/security-technology\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"18\">security technology<\/a> advances, it seems very likely that UK homeowners and businesses will use CCTV in more and more applications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One example applies to supermarkets and retailers, where CCTV can be used alongside body temperature detection cameras to instantly identify high heat signatures and a potential health and safety risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV is, therefore, here to stay &#8211; and if you are considering ramping up your security, either at home, at work, or both, it&#8217;s a failsafe option to protect your properties and assets at every time of day or night.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What These CCTV Numbers Mean for You<\/h2>\n<p>Estimates for how many CCTV cameras are in the UK vary widely, mainly because there\u2019s no single official register and different sources count different types of systems.<\/p>\n<p>The headline figures are useful for context, yet the practical takeaway is simpler: CCTV is now a normal part of daily life across homes, businesses, and public spaces.<\/p>\n<p>What matters most is using CCTV responsibly. Have a clear purpose for recording, avoid capturing more than you need, keep access secure, and retain footage only for as long as it\u2019s genuinely required.<\/p>\n<p>This keeps your setup effective while staying aligned with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2018\/12\/contents\">UK data protection<\/a> expectations.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re planning a CCTV setup for a site, premises, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/vacant-property-cctv\/\">vacant property<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/contact-us\/\">Clearway<\/a> can help you choose the right approach and keep it compliant from day one.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Question<\/h2>\n<h3>How many CCTV cameras are in the UK?<\/h3>\n<p>Estimates vary because most cameras are privately owned and not registered, so totals are based on research and modelling.<\/p>\n<p>The most-cited figures range from millions of CCTV cameras to much higher counts when broader video surveillance devices are included.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do different websites give different CCTV totals?<\/h3>\n<p>Some sources count only traditional CCTV systems, while others include doorbell cameras and wider surveillance devices. There is no single official register, so methodology matters.<\/p>\n<h3>Can the police request my CCTV footage in the UK?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, police can request footage if it may help an investigation, and they may use a warrant if needed. If your system captures relevant evidence, sharing it usually supports public safety and due process.<\/p>\n<h3>How long should CCTV footage be kept in the UK?<\/h3>\n<p>Retention should be limited to what\u2019s necessary for the stated purpose, and many organisations use short retention windows as standard practice. Follow ICO guidance and document your retention rationale.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I need signs for CCTV at home or at a business?<\/h3>\n<p>If you capture images beyond your private boundary or operate CCTV as an organisation, clear signage and transparency are key expectations under data protection guidance. ICO guidance explains how to do this lawfully.<\/p>\n<h3>Related Reading<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cerberussecurity.co.uk\/how-much-does-cctv-cost\/\">How much does CCTV cost?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cerberussecurity.co.uk\/the-rules-for-cctv\/\">The rules of CCTV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CCTV surveillance is a vital security asset for many homes, businesses and public spaces throughout the UK.\u00a0 It is used to streamline safety checks, protect properties when they are uninhabited, and monitor movements. But how many CCTV cameras are there in the UK?\u00a0 Key Takeways The British Security Industry Association\u00a0(BSIA) reported that there are approximately&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":17409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,18],"tags":[],"area":[55],"class_list":["post-1857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-technology","area-cctv"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>CCTV Usage in the UK \/\/ How many CCTV cameras are there in the UK?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CCTV was first developed back in the 1940s, designed to capture footage of rocket launches during WWII with early commercial systems 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