CCTV victory for Birmingham's Muslim communities

Fears were that CCTV in West Midlands was to target areas and would label Muslims

Campaigners have hailed a victory from the news that West Midlands Police have backed down from plans to operate over two hundred new CCTV cameras in areas with predominantly Muslim populations.

The cameras installed in autumn 2010 remained unused after a furore from local residents over the lack of consultation and the potentially disproportionate use of racial profiling resulting from the cameras being operational.

To add further embarrassment to the local authority Birmingham was named as the highest spending on CCTV with £10.5 almost being double that of its nearest rival, Sandwell.

All 218 cameras in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook areas of Birmingham are due to be removed later this month.