The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Professor William Webster has recently published an updated guide for local authorities to support their compliance with the 12 guiding principles of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.
Local councils are among the relevant authorities that must pay due regard to the Code under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. The original code was published in 2013, but was then updated in 2021. Additionally, some compliance of the Code is required under data protection law which impacts all surveillance camera operators.
The requirement to comply with the Code applies to all surveillance camera systems operated by the local authorities including CCTV, body-worn cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, drones and vehicle-borne video systems.
The Code covers any local authority owned or managed sites where surveillance cameras are deployed for public safety, security and community protection purposes. This could include systems in town centres as well as libraries, leisure centres, town halls, schools, museums, housing estates and communal residential areas, parks and open spaces, cemeteries, waste and recycling facilities as well as transport hubs.
Local authorities need to be aware of the number of cameras it has deployed as well as how they are deployed. It is therefore recommended that local authorities nominate a single point of contact to oversee all the systems and to ensure they are all compliant with the Code.
The first principle of the Code outlines that any surveillance camera system must be for a specified purpose and meet a pressing need. It must be considered if to meet that purpose and aim the surveillance cameras are required of if there are other ways to meet it.
In line with data protection law and concerns with privacy, Principle 2 of the Code states that the use of a surveillance systems must take into account its effect on individuals and their privacy, with regular reviews to ensure its use remains justified.
The guidance emphasises the need for adequate training procedures and adequate understanding of new technologies, such as facial recognition, which may require additional data impact assessments and improved validation of databases.
In order to support the work of local authorities’ compliance with the Code the Commissioner’s office has developed a self-assessment tool alongside the guidance. This aims to help local authorities develop an action plan to fill gaps in compliance. The Commissioner has also published guidance to local authorities in establishing a Single Point of Contact to support the management of video surveillance systems across its area of responsibility.
Ecl-ips has been a supporter of the Code, since it was first developed, as well as the work of the Commissioner. As a previous blog noted while private sector organisations may not be required to comply with the Code, as local authorities and other public bodies are, since the Data Protection Act (2018) and UK GDPR (2021) were enacted following the Code ensures you meet legal requirements.
If you want to be able to manage your CCTV systems to ensure compliance then you can sign up to CCTV Logbook. This software as a service product (SaaS) allows you to manage your surveillance camera assets properly and allows you to assess your compliance against the Code. You can sign up instantly for a 30-day free trial or contact us to find out more.
Meanwhile, as an NSI Gold-certified company Ecl-ips follows the highest standards for security solution installation and encourage and guide our customers to do the same when they operate our systems. In order to support surveillance camera operators, manufacturers and installers the Commissioner has published a list of recommended British, European and International standards that should be used to ensure systems are compliant with accrediting industry bodies. If you want to know more about the Avigilon Alta cloud surveillance camera systems we install, and how they meet data protection and industry standards, please get in touch.