Members of the Muslim community in Birmingham want anti-terrorism CCTV cameras installed in their areas, a top police officer has said.
More than 200 cameras in Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook were taken down in 2011.
The head of the force’s counter-terrorism unit, Sue Southern, said: “There are members of the community saying ‘why don’t we have cameras?’”
Abdul Rashid of the Birmingham Central Mosque said: “We are not aware of anyone asking for cameras to return.”
‘Lack of consultation’
He added: “In my personal opinion it would be a bad idea, nobody wants these intrusive cameras.”
In April 2011, 218 cameras, some of which were hidden and paid for with £3m of government funds earmarked for tackling terrorism, were installed
They were removed after members of the community reacted angrily and an independent report criticised the move.
Det Ch Supt Southern said: “At that time the way in which the matter was dealt with, there was a lack of consultation.”
She said CCTV was important in solving cases like Pavlo Lapshyn, the Ukrainian who plotted explosions near local mosques in 2013, and that had helped to change minds.
Imam Sajjad Muhammad, of the Paigham-E-Islam Trust in Sparkhill, said the return of the cameras could help catch potential terrorists.
Ayub Pervaz, president of the Alum Rock Islamic Centre, said: “They are a good idea, but not in residential areas.”