Whilst compiling my Music/History Blog Beneath The Beat I came across the 1965 BBC Documentary 'The Singing City'.

Part of the documentary was an interview with Acting Chief Constable Herbert Balmer who spoke about his implementation of CCTV linked to a central control room who was in contact with the squad cars of his 'Commandos'.

One CCTV camera was on top of Lewis's department store but I don't know the location of the others.

I believe this is the first record of CCTV being used in the UK - possibly the world.

1967 Photoscan a commercial CCTV company launches in retail shops.



1975 is given as first time permanent and systematic use of CCTV was used outside the private sector by London Underground.

1985 is when Bornemouth is credited as having the first permanently monitored public space in Britain.

Why then has Liverpool been forgotten in this story?

The documentary can be found in the link on my blog here.