Campaigners have called on the council to better share CCTV footage to aid the police with enquiries.

Mill Hill Liberal Democrat campaigners Roger Tichborne, Donna Pickup and Richard Logue are calling on Barnet Council to better share their CCTV footage after speaking to traders in The Broadway, Mill Hill, who have been victims of vandalism.

One trader, Natasha Matthews, owner of The Creamery cafe, told the campaigners she was told she would have to provide a specific 20 minute time window of footage for the council in order for it to be shared with the police after her cafe was subject to vandalism.

However Cllr David Longstaff, chairman of the community leadership committee, disputed the idea that they are not sharing CCTV, saying in the last 12 months the council has provided 230 packages of footage and contributed to the arrests of more than 370 suspects. 

Richard Logue of the Mill Hill Liberal Democrats said: "Barnet Council’s lack of action on this matter is completely unacceptable. 

"What is the point of maintaining a CCTV system on The Broadway if the council are placing bureaucratic barriers between traders who have had their premises wrecked and getting these incidents investigated by the police? 

"The traders and residents of Mill Hill deserve better than this."

Mr Logue also said that other establishments such as Tesco Express, Logo Boutique and Bluebelles Café have been vandalised with doors or windows smashed, but no arrests have been made in their cases.

Cllr Longstaff said: "The safety of our residents and their property is of paramount importance to us. If a criminal offence has been committed we ask that residents report it to police who will then be able to request any CCTV footage relating to it from the council.

"We will always assist the police in their investigations and do so on a regular basis by providing CCTV footage for evidential purposes. We have a well-established process for sharing footage with police, this continues to work well, and we’re not aware of any issues such as those described as happening in Mill Hill. 

"While monitoring the borough’s network of CCTV cameras, operators also frequently alert the police to incidents as they unfold."

He added that in recent years all CCTV cameras in the borough have been updated, as well as the CCTV control room.