Barnet Council Upgrades Video Network

i-PRO Co., Ltd. announced it is modernising the video infrastructure for Barnet London Borough Council, the capital's most populous borough with close to 350,000 residents.

The geographically diverse area spans urban centres such as Hendon, Finchley, Golders Green, Friern Barnet, Chipping Barnet, Whetstone and Edgware, alongside village communities like Totteridge and Arkley and Green Belt land.

The council's legacy system had fallen into disrepair, with only 15–20 of its 3,000 cameras functioning across the estate. Seeking to future‑proof its operations, Barnet aimed to deploy smarter technology capable of generating actionable insights, boosting efficiency and enhancing services for residents and businesses.

In a phased programme, Barnet is deploying the i-PRO X-series AI Processing Relay Application to bring AI-driven analytics to existing cameras, including third‑party models. This enables people and vehicle detection and counting without replacing installed devices or relying on server‑heavy processing. The project also adds new i-PRO cameras, a refreshed control room and an upgraded Genetec video management system (VMS). The choice was guided by i-PRO’s AI capabilities and estimated savings of £600,000 over five years compared with server-based options, while the system’s scalability removes the need for extra server hardware, space or cooling.

"A key factor in the decision was the ability of i-PRO cameras to serve as multifunctional sensors, capturing both security footage and valuable urban analytics. The cameras are used for people and vehicle counting, feeding real-time data into Power BI for internal council reports," stated Aaron Stephens, Managing Director at DSSL Systems.

The resulting analytics are informing plans for deployments in parks, railway stations and other busy locations. Insights are also helping local businesses understand footfall patterns and make better decisions on infrastructure investment, traffic management and public space planning.

"Unlike traditional server-based AI systems, which place a heavy burden on network infrastructure, i-PRO cameras process analytics on the edge, transmitting only metadata rather than large video files," continued Stephens.

The rollout has been designed to meet strict cyber security requirements, aligning with regulations such as the NDAA. Installed by DSSL, the network follows stringent firewall policies and integrates with the Genetec platform to ensure secure, reliable data management.

"The i-PRO forensic capabilities are directly embedded within Genetec Security Centre, which enables control room operators to quickly find specific objects or events by filtering through attributes and characteristics captured by the cameras. This speeds up the investigative process and enhances collaboration with the Metropolitan Police," said Benjamin Durrant, Account Executive, Genetec UK & Ireland.

To date, the deployment includes 127 X-series bullet cameras for general safety and monitoring, 10 fisheye cameras in libraries for heat‑mapping and people counting, and dual‑view 5G redeployable units for festivals and outdoor events. In unmanned libraries, audio detection triggers alerts for disturbances and automated people counting confirms buildings are empty before lockdown procedures begin.

Barnet's smart city investment extends beyond security. Redeployable 5G cameras are being used to track attendance at public events, festivals and religious gatherings, providing crowd insights that support planning across the borough’s culturally diverse communities.

"With an initial £1 million investment, the council has maximised existing infrastructure to expand its data capabilities without significant additional spending. Phase two of the project, which has already been approved, will see the addition of 60-70 new i-PRO bullet cameras," stated Stephens.

The council's smart city and community safety teams are also exploring advanced uses such as people and vehicle analytics, with an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) trial due to start and potential for wider rollout. The system complies with data privacy rules and does not use facial recognition; governance approvals are awaited before sharing public results.

Looking ahead, Barnet is assessing additional IoT integrations, including environmental sensors, flood detection and traffic signal coordination, to further strengthen its smart city ecosystem.

"This transparency, combined with i-PRO's compliance with strict security standards, solidified the council’s trust in the solution. The i-PRO team came in to answer questions from the council and really won them over with their knowledge and honesty," said Stephens. "Furthermore, i-PRO's deep integration with the Genetec security solutions portfolio created a seamless ecosystem, reinforcing its strong position in the smart city market."