Bags are to be put over scores of surveillance cameras in parts of Birmingham with large Muslim populations, after local objections.
There is to be consultation over the
use of the cameras
Safer Birmingham Partnerships (SBP) said 218 cameras had been installed, mainly in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook districts.
The cameras were financed through a counter-terrorism fund, but the SBP said they would tackle all crime.
The cameras will not be used until consultation has been carried out.
The cameras were financed through the Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) Terrorism and Allied Matters (TAM).
'General crime'
In a statement in April, the SBP said it had received £3m from the Home Office to improve community safety and crime reduction in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook wards.
"Although the counter terrorism unit was responsible for identifying and securing central government funds and have overseen the technical aspects of the installation, the camera sites were chosen on the basis of general crime data - not just counter-terrorism intelligence," the SBP said on Thursday.
The SBP - a partnership of the police, the city council and other agencies - said a number of concerns had been raised and it wanted to give people the right to express their views.
Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Hall Green, said: "I put down an early day motion in the House of Commons expressing my concern about the way it had been handled and saying that there should be proper public consultation before the cameras are activated.
"If that's what the police have now decided to do, I applaud them for doing so."
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There is to be consultation over the
use of the cameras
Safer Birmingham Partnerships (SBP) said 218 cameras had been installed, mainly in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook districts.
The cameras were financed through a counter-terrorism fund, but the SBP said they would tackle all crime.
The cameras will not be used until consultation has been carried out.
The cameras were financed through the Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) Terrorism and Allied Matters (TAM).
'General crime'
In a statement in April, the SBP said it had received £3m from the Home Office to improve community safety and crime reduction in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook wards.
"Although the counter terrorism unit was responsible for identifying and securing central government funds and have overseen the technical aspects of the installation, the camera sites were chosen on the basis of general crime data - not just counter-terrorism intelligence," the SBP said on Thursday.
The SBP - a partnership of the police, the city council and other agencies - said a number of concerns had been raised and it wanted to give people the right to express their views.
Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Hall Green, said: "I put down an early day motion in the House of Commons expressing my concern about the way it had been handled and saying that there should be proper public consultation before the cameras are activated.
"If that's what the police have now decided to do, I applaud them for doing so."
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