CCTV

This is a short summary of the Code of Practice that has been adopted to govern the operation of the Charnwood CCTV system:

1 Introduction and Objectives

A Closed Circuit Television System (CCTV) was first introduced to Charnwood in 1996. This system, known as the Charnwood CCTV System, comprises a number of cameras installed at strategic locations. All images are presented in the same monitoring suite.

The System is an important facility for delivering the crime and disorder reduction objectives of the Charnwood Community Safety Partnership. Partnership interests and responsibilities are managed through a multi-agency CCTV Steering Group.

Charnwood Borough Council, as owner of the System, is accountable for the day to day operations.

The objectives of the Charnwood CCTV System are:

• To help reduce the fear of crime
• To help prevent and detect crime and provide evidential material for court proceedings
• To assist in the overall management of the Charnwood Area
• To help deter and detect acts of anti social behaviour including alcohol and drug related elements
• To enhance community safety, assist in developing the economic well being of the Charnwood area and encourage greater use of the Town Centres
• To assist the Local Authority in their enforcement and regulatory functions within the Charnwood area
• To assist in Traffic Management, and encourage safer and more sustainable use of all modes of transport and provide travel information to the media and public
• To assist in supporting civil proceedings
• To monitor all modes of travel to enable improvement and better management of the public highway
• Assisting with the maintenance of public order
• Preventing persons from committing crimes and to enhance the opportunities for detecting those who do
• Improving the safety and security of residents, visitors and the business community
• Preventing vehicle crime in public spaces and car parks
• Identifying and preventing hate related incidents and crimes, violent and acquisitive crimes.
• To provide CCTV support for pre-planned events and operations.

2 General Principles of Operation

The System will be operated in accordance with:

• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• The Data Protection Act 1998

It is intended, as far as reasonably possible, to balance the objectives of the CCTV System with the need to safeguard the individual's rights.

All cameras within the System will be positioned within an area suitably signed to alert of their presence. Details of the location of all cameras are listed in the "Extract from the Charnwood CCTV System Code of Practice" posted in the Related Documents area below.

All cameras are connected to the System’s CCTV Control Room. All images captured by the System are recorded throughout every 24 hour period by the Control Room and/or recorded to local hard drive where this is technically necessary.

Where mobile or re-deployable cameras are deployed they will, where technically possible, be remotely connected to the CCTV Control Room and their operation will be similar to fixed camera installations.

Staff will be suitably trained and hold Security Industry Authority licences for Public Space Surveillance.

CCTV equipment will not be used to record conversations between members of the public.

• The use of audio to broadcast messages to those under surveillance will be restricted to messages directly related to the purpose for which the system was established.
• Where there are audio communications with Help Points, these will be initiated by those requiring assistance.

Control and monitoring of the cameras is within the hands of the CCTV Team Leader and Advisors. However, the Police may request assistance and the Code of Practice sets out arrangements for managing such requests.

Such requests will usually arise after the Police have been contacted by a duty CCTV Advisor. In circumstances when problems are anticipated, arrangements may be made for a Police Officer to be present within the CCTV Control Centre for liaison purposes. This will normally apply for the duration of the incident and will be subject to the arrangements made by the CCTV Team Leader. On each occasion a record must be made in the Incident Log (VTAS).

To ensure compliance with the Information Commissioners Code of Practice and that images recorded continue to be of appropriate evidential quality the System is maintained under a maintenance agreement.

The System will be evaluated every three years, to establish whether the purposes of the System are being complied with and whether objectives are being achieved. An annual report about the System will be published.

3 Data Management

The processing, storage and security of the data will be strictly maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and additional locally agreed procedures.

The operation of the System has been notified to the Office of the Information Commissioner in accordance with current Data Protection legislation. The 'Data Controller' for the System is Charnwood Borough Council.

Any request from an individual for the disclosure of personal data which he / she believes is recorded by virtue of the System, will be directed in the first instance to the Council’s Standards and Monitoring Officer.

The principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 shall be followed in respect of every request. Individuals whose image is captured on CCTV, but who are not the target of the surveillance are not entitled to make an access request.

If the request cannot be complied with without identifying another individual, permission from that individual must be obtained, unless it is reasonable in all the circumstances to comply with the request without the consent of that individual.

Any person making a request must be able to satisfactorily prove their identity and provide sufficient information to enable the data to be located. A charge of £10 will be required to process the request; with the charge will be reviewed annually.

In considering a request made under the provisions of Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, reference may also be made to Section 29 of the Act which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Personal data processed for any of the following purposes -

• the prevention or detection of crime
• the apprehension or prosecution of offenders

are exempt from the subject access provisions in any case to the extent to which the application of those provisions to the data would be likely to prejudice the matters referred to above.

Access to and the use of recorded material will be strictly for the purposes defined in this Code of Practice only. Recorded material will not be copied, sold, otherwise released or used for commercial purposes or for the provision of entertainment or otherwise made available for any use incompatible with the Code of Practice.

Every request for the release of personal data generated by this CCTV System will be dealt with in accordance with the National Standard for the release of data to third parties.

Recorded material will be retained for a period of 28 days. Digital recording will be set to overwrite automatically.

Each discrete item of recorded material (tape, CD, DVD etc) will be registered and monitored from the time it is produced until it is destroyed, whilst it is within the CCTV Control Room. Records will be retained for at least 12 months.

4 Complaints

A member of the public wishing to register a complaint with regard to any aspect of the System may do so by contacting the Contact Centre Manager. All complaints shall be dealt with in accordance with Charnwood Borough Council complaints procedure.