CCTV hub launched in Abingdon to boost safety across Oxfordshire
Countywide control room aims to support crime prevention
Last updated 2nd Oct 2026
A new CCTV control room has opened in Abingdon, bringing the monitoring of public space cameras from across Oxfordshire under one roof.
The hub, based at Abingdon Police Station, will monitor cameras covering Oxford City, West Oxfordshire, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.
Eight CCTV operators and a supervisor will work from the control room, monitoring cameras across the county and responding to live incidents.
The facility was officially launched by Thames Valley Police, local councils and Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber as part of the Thames Valley CCTV Partnership.
Under the new arrangements, Oxfordshire district councils have transferred the operation of their public space CCTV to Thames Valley Police.
The scheme has received investment from the Police and Crime Commissioner, alongside ongoing funding from local authorities.
Officials say the changes include upgrades to parts of the existing camera network, improved monitoring technology and closer integration with police systems.
Officers will also be able to access footage remotely, while high-definition images can be shared more easily across Thames Valley Police to support investigations.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley, said the partnership would provide a more consistent and sustainable CCTV service across the county.
“The benefits are clear. In addition to a modernised, more effective system, we can expect closer links with frontline officers and police control rooms to help prevent crime, catch and convict criminals and ultimately increase people's feelings of safety in our public places,” he said.
Superintendent John Batty, from Thames Valley Police, described the new hub as a “significant step forward” in partnership working across Oxfordshire.
He said: “The improved technology and increased resilience of the system will help us prevent crime, protect vulnerable people and gather valuable evidence to help keep our communities safe."
Oxford City Council says more than 90 public space CCTV cameras currently operate across Oxford.
Councillor Lubna Arshad, the council’s Cabinet Member for a Safer Oxford, said joining the partnership would strengthen its work with police and other councils, including responding to crime, missing person incidents and emergencies.
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety at West Oxfordshire District Council, said the authority had helped take a lead in setting up the hub.
He said: “The new hub promises great benefits in terms of helping prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and it will make an important contribution to safety in our West Oxfordshire market towns.”
South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council have also welcomed the partnership, saying it should provide a more resilient and sustainable CCTV service.
The Thames Valley CCTV Partnership has already been operating in Milton Keynes and Slough since January 2024.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner says it is open to discussing the scheme with other local authorities interested in joining the partnership.