Street infrastructure is now being fitted with sensors that gather data about traffic, pedestrians, and the environment within which the public services operate.  This smart street ecosystem is also referred to as connected places. This research initially explored how the integrated smart infrastructure services rolled out by local authorities (through private operators) are changing the criminal and security landscape. It then deep dived using smart EV charging case study, into whether the current procurement process enables the local authorities to utiilise NCSC connected place principles for cybersecurity to minimize cyber risks of the connected place ecosystem. The research highlights the gap in national policy to protect national essential services and local implementation for systemic events.