Madrid launches €17 million plan to install 1,123 cameras across small towns

More than 1,100 cameras capable of reading vehicle number plates are set to be installed across 142 smaller municipalities in the Community of Madrid, in a major new surveillance project designed to improve road management and public safety.

The regional government plans to invest €17 million over five years in the scheme, which will cover towns with fewer than 20,000 residents. Installation is expected to begin in the second half of 2027.

The initiative will place cameras at 564 control points, particularly around municipal entrances, allowing authorities to gather information about vehicles travelling through the areas.

How the new cameras will work

The first phase will focus on automatic number plate recognition, giving authorities a clearer picture of traffic movements and helping local police manage incidents.

According to the regional government, the technology is intended to strengthen the resources available to smaller communities, where limited police numbers and distances between residential areas can make monitoring more difficult.

A second phase could expand the system to general video surveillance, allowing security forces to use the cameras to help prevent crime and respond to incidents.

However, this wider surveillance function will require authorisation from Spain’s Ministry of the Interior and the Government Delegation before it can be introduced.

Who will pay for the system?

The Community of Madrid will cover the installation costs, maintenance and the technological infrastructure required to operate the network.

The investment also includes the cloud infrastructure used to store and safeguard the recorded images and data.

Responsibility for monitoring the system will depend on the resources available in each municipality. Where a local police force exists, officers will oversee the information gathered by the cameras.

In towns without their own municipal police, the information can be managed through the regional Municipal Coordination Centre, known as CECOM, which is connected to Madrid’s emergency response services.

The regional government says the scheme is intended to support existing security services rather than replace officers on the ground.

Part of a wider plan for smaller towns

The project forms part of the regional government’s Pueblos con Vida programme, which aims to improve services and living conditions in smaller communities.

Alongside the surveillance network, the programme includes efforts to improve access to everyday services for residents who might otherwise need to travel to larger towns.

One measure involves expanding access to cash machines in municipalities that lack traditional banking facilities. A further 36 towns with fewer than 5,000 residents are expected to receive a cash machine before the end of 2026.

The wider objective is to help smaller communities remain viable places to live by improving access to essential services, supporting local commerce and strengthening public infrastructure.

The camera network is scheduled to begin rolling out in 2027, with the initial focus on vehicle identification and traffic management before any broader surveillance functions are introduced.