The Enfield Public Safety Centre (EPSC) monitors CCTV cameras across the borough 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help keep Enfield residents safe.
The EPSC is operated by Enfield Council and helps the police in their investigations, enabling many arrests and provides vital evidence for trials and prosecutions.
Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Enforcement at Enfield Council, Cllr Gina Needs, said: “The fantastic and vital work carried out by Enfield Public Safety Centre staff is pivotal to keeping our communities safe, and strengthens the council’s relationship with local blue light emergency services.
“Our number one priority is to ensure that all residents and neighbourhoods in Enfield continue to thrive, and those who commit crime in our borough feel the full force of the law.”
Here are examples of recent incidents Enfield Council’s ESPC operatives have picked up on camera that have assisted police:
Criminal damage and suspected burglary - Sunday 14 July at 2.34am
On the radio at the EPSC, an operator heard about a possible burglary taking place in The Town opposite Market Square. The suspects were loitering outside the Kings Head public house and the operator noticed a male looking into the pub windows, so Metropolitan Police Control was informed.
The man was stopped and questioned by police who claimed he was only was looking through the window. The EPSC operator studied earlier CCTV footage and identified the same man breaking the pub window. He was later spotted on camera running near Burleigh Way and was arrested for damaging property.
Violence against a person - Thursday 18 July at 2.50am
In Enfield Highway, a fight between two males took place at Ozgur Food Centre. An EPSC operator monitored the area after hearing about the fight via radio. The operator spotted the victim and followed him on camera.
The suspect approached the victim with a large knife, so the operator informed all police units as they were not aware of the live incident. When the police arrived, the man did not cooperate and he reached to his waist area where his knife was, so he was tasered.
Police were very thankful and appreciative to the Enfield Council EPSC operator who alerted them the suspect was armed with a knife. This was vital information to officers attending the scene. Police later attended the EPSC for a copy of the footage of the incident and thanked everyone in the control room for their hard work.
Abduction and kidnap - Sunday 21 July at 11.24am
On the radio, reports were received of a male at the Shell petrol station in Turkey Street claiming he had escaped from a van after being kidnapped. The victim managed to find his way to the Shell Garage and call police. The EPSC operator scanned and found the location and monitored the petrol station.
Police arrived and took the victim away from the area as a suspect van was close by. The victim said he had been kidnapped from the Romford area. The victim did not know the area and where he escaped from as he is not from the Enfield area.
An EPSC operator played back CCTV footage in the area and saw the victim exiting Lackmore Road and informed Metropolitan Police Control of this information as it was key to where the suspect van was located. The operator kept monitoring the area in case suspects appeared. Police found the van as described and the three male suspects in the van in Bridge End Road Close by to Lackmore Road.
Two of the three suspects were detained, and one male suspect fled. Police chased him on foot at Marryat Road as he was garden hopping. A dog unit was despatched to the area but the suspect could not be found.
The operator continued to monitor CCTV cameras and at 1.50pm the suspect was seen running topless across the road and heading to a bus stop on the A10. The operator informed police units dealing with the kidnapping.
Police quickly attended the location, arrested the suspect and thanked Enfield Council’s EPSC team for their good work in helping to catch the third suspected kidnapper.
Road related offence - Friday 9 August at 12.30am
A police car chase took place from Alma Road into South Street in Ponders End. An EPSC operator found a black and a white vehicle fleeing from police. The suspects’ car was heading into Lincoln Road and took a left into Concord Road.
The EPSC operator informed police who were chasing the suspects. Both vehicles abandoned in the Concord Road and Clarence Road area. The suspect was spotted running out of Clarence Road who was hiding beside Tiger Bay Restaurant.
Police attended the restaurant after the tip off by EPSC, detained the suspect and found large amount of cash and drugs in his possession. Three other suspects were later arrested in the Clarence Road area, where a machete and other weapons were found by police dogs.
Robbery - Saturday 24 August at 1.10am
While conducting a regular patrol at Joyce Avenue, an EPSC operator noticed two males riding a moped in the area and acting suspiciously.
The operator continued to monitor them and observed the two individuals robbing a man. The operator immediately alerted the Metropolitan Police Control, and images of the suspects were sent to the police whose units were promptly sent to the scene. The operator continued to track the suspects on camera as they headed towards Sterling Way, providing updates to police officers on route.
The operator reported their last known location as the A406 near Aberdeen Road. Police arrived at the scene, took statements from the victim, and gathered evidence for the case.
Shoplifting - Wednesday 4 September at 5.43am
A male was spotted on EPSC cameras clearing the shelves at Co-op on Hertford Road Junction with Green Street. The EPSC operator acted fast and directed a camera to the entrance of the shop.
The operator kept the suspect under surveillance who was carrying an orange carrier bag and heading towards a bus stop. The Metropolitan Police were notified, and they arrived on scene.
As the suspect noticed Police, he decided to quickly change his clothes by taking off his denim jacket and putting on a cap. He also put the orange bag he was carrying behind the bus stop to try and hide the suspected stolen goods. The operator guided the Police on scene towards the suspect who stopped and searched him.
The operator notified Police the suspect tried to hide the stolen goods behind the bus stop. Police found the bag and after searching him, took him back to the Co-op shop to match the CCTV footage with him and the stolen goods with the items in his bag. The man was arrested for theft.