Community Safety CCTV - Annual Standards Report 2023 to 2024

1 April 2024

01642 528989

Marc Stephenson

1. Does the system continue to meet the purpose for which it was installed?

The system continues to meet its purpose in terms of deterring, preventing and detection of crime, working to all legal requirements.

2. Have any complaints been received about an individual camera or the whole/part of the system? If yes, what was the outcome?

No complaints have been received up until the date of this review from members of the public. We have been subject to a number of Freedom of Information Requests however this has also not resulted in further follow up.

3. Has the location of each camera been reviewed to ensure they remain suitable?

Each camera location is reviewed on an annual basis making sure the location is suitable for the required purpose. All new installations are reviewed, and a privacy impact assessment undertaken.

4. Is there a Comprehensive maintenance and cleaning regime in place?

A specific maintenance and cleaning contract is in place and is provided by specialist engineers who is contracted to maintain the system until October 2025.

5. Is there appropriate and sufficient signage in places to warn people that CCTV is in use?

CCTV warning signs have been positioned in and around all areas covered by CCTV.

The signs are reviewed annually to ensure it is fit for purpose and meet national guidelines.

The code of practices used by the Authority is updated on an annual basis or when new legislation is made available. The most recent update of the CCTV codes of practice used by the Authority was April 2020.

The code of practice is readily available for all staff within the CCTV control room. Copies are available for the public use via the Stockton on Tees Borough Council website or upon request in person, telephone or email.

All cameras are serviced and meet the required quality assurance requirements. The authority also considers upgrading any of its CCTV cameras as and when necessary, based on operational demand.

9. Are there regular function checks to ensure that all equipment is in operating and recording correctly and that all images are stamped with the correct date/time?

Daily camera and recording checks are undertaken and any identified system faults are reported for repair to the maintenance contractor.

Power to the recorded system is protected by an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) within the CCTV control room. The UPS would enable the system to be shut down in a controlled manner, allowing the maintenance supplier time to rectify any faults.

1. Has the Camera Scheme been reviewed and are any installations reviewed?

The full CCTV network is reviewed yearly. All new CCTV installations go through the same review process, when installed part year.

31 days, any evidential Master and working copies are supplied to Police.

All other authorised third-party Enforcement agencies are supplied with a working copy and the master copy is held securely for 3 years.

A procedure is in place for all CCTV requests.

The form must be signed and submitted before any data can be released and the details are recorded in the Control room management system logging in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Data is only released to the Police and other enforcement agencies. These agencies are all required to have Data Protection Policies in place. Relevant paperwork is completed, and a copy retained for records. This is further covered by measures such as Information Sharing Protocols.

1. Use of a surveillance camera must always be for a specified purpose which is in pursuit of a legitimate aim and necessary to meet an identified pressing need.

The operation of the Public Space Surveillance Network in Stockton on Tees is done so for a specific purpose, detailed within the Code of Practice.

The Privacy impact assessment for the Scheme and new CCTV installations documents the purpose for each individual camera and this is subject to annual review.

2. The use of a surveillance camera system must take into account its effect on individuals and their privacy, with regular reviews to ensure its use remains justified.

The CCTV system takes into account the impact CCTV has on a business, property, location and an individual by carrying out a yearly privacy impact review. A camera specific review is carried out for all new CCTV installations.

The following documents are published on the authority's website for members of the community and to show full and complete transparency:

• CCTV Code of Practice
• Service Standards/Privacy Impact Review
• Annual Performance Report
• Surveillance Camera Code of Practice: self- assessment tool

Contact / ownership details are also available via the website and Code of Practice.

4. There must be clear responsibility for all surveillance camera system activities including images and information collected, held and used.

5. Clear rules, policies and procedures must be in place before a surveillance camera system is used, and these must be communicated to all who need to comply with them.

Existing systems or procedures have been in operation since 1994 and updated as and when required.

CCTV Code of Practice and any additional guidelines, including operational procedure manual for control room staff are available.

Non evidential images are system deleted after 31 days. All stored information/working copies/master copies of the CCTV evidence must be signed and collected by the officer involved on the case.

Any non - Police Enforcement agencies are handed the working copy of any evidential images and the master is stored in the SBC control room for 3 years before being destroyed.

All requests for the release of data shall be processed in accordance with the procedures detailed within the Code of Practice. All such requests shall be channelled through the data controller. The system owner has responsibility for oversight of this procedure.

Primary requests to view data generated by a CCTV System are likely to be made by third parties for any one or more of the following purposes:

• providing evidence in criminal proceedings (for example, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Criminal Procedures & Investigations Act 1996)
• providing evidence in civil proceedings or tribunals
• the prevention of crime
• the investigation and detection of crime, this may include identification of offenders
• identification of witnesses

Access restrictions apply as detailed in the CCTV Code of Practice. All retained Images are documented and signed out by authorised personnel and third parties only.

Appropriate security measures are in place as detailed within the CCTV Code of Practice. All images and information are securely held within the control room. Access to such images is strictly controlled and Network video recorders are securely locked away and access to downloaded images is Controlled and signed out by authorised persons only.

All legal requirements, polices and standards met, as detailed in the CCTV Code of Practice.

All policies are strictly controlled by the system owner and data controller as well as duty supervisors, regular checks to ensure compliance of the polices and standards are completed. Regular reports are produced showing statistical information on footage reviews. Home office guidance is followed using the recommended principles.

11. When the use of a surveillance camera system is in pursuit of a legitimate aim, and there is a pressing need for its use, it should then be used in the most effective way to support public safety and law enforcement with the aim of processing images and information of evidential value.

The System has been designed to assist in the prevention and detection of crime and to support public safety.

The Codes of Practice have been written and reviewed to take into account all factors.

12. Any information used to support a surveillance camera system which compares against a reference database for matching purposes should be accurate and kept up to date.