Hackney has been branded the worst place in the UK for fugitives to hide.

The figures were released ahead of the second series of Channel 4’s programme Hunted, which sees civilian contestants attempt to avoid a team of former police and intelligence officers for 28 days.

Hackney’s Civil Protection Centre, which carries out surveillance of public space, can access 2,900 CCTV cameras.

Newcastle meanwhile has the least amount of CCTV cameras at 79, and Bristol has the most CCTV cameras outside of London with 658.

The 2,900 CCTV cameras in Hackney include 320 cameras belonging to Hackney Council along with others in railways stations, private and public housing estates, council offices, waste transfer depots, car parks and even other boroughs - which Hackney can monitor in “cross-border agreements”.

A spokesman for the council said: “CCTV plays a vital role in helping the Police solve crimes, in bringing perpetrators to justice and in making residents feel safe.

“Since the control centre opened in 2003, over 174,000 incidents have been caught on camera.

“Hackney Council runs the borough’s CCTV system in partnership with the police, the fire service, Homerton University Hospital, Transport for London and several housing associations, to monitor events including the 2011 riots and the Olympic Games, and to improve community safety.”