Redruth Town Centre CCTV
Redruth Town Council assumed responsibility for the 8 public realm CCTV cameras and system from Cornwall Council in November 2016. We now own the assets and are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the cameras and system; and the monitoring which is carried on our behalf, and that of 7 other Town Councils, by the Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service at their Critical Control Room at Tolvadden.
The intention of the town centre CCTV system in Redruth is directed towards deterring anti-social behaviour and preventing crime, thereby providing a safer environment for the benefit of the whole community.
The Town Council accepts that there may be legitimate public concern over the use of CCTV to monitor public areas; accordingly it is of fundamental importance that public confidence is maintained by fully respecting individual privacy. A degree of security has therefore been established to ensure the integrity of the recordings made and to ensure that what is seen remains highly confidential.
The scheme will be operated fairly and within the law, and only for the purposes either established or subsequently agreed in the Code of Practice. The privacy of domestic properties within range of cameras will be maintained so as not to impinge upon anyone’s civil liberties.
Effective use of CCTV requires a partnership between the Council and the Police, consultation regularly takes place and will continue increasingly in order to ensure that best working practices are carried out and best use is made of resources.
The CCTV system will be used for the following purposes:
- To work in partnership with the Police to improve community safety, and any other circumstances which will benefit the public good.
- To reduce the fear of crime, which includes assisting the Police in the prevention and/or detection of crime
- To enable the identification, apprehension and prosecution of people carrying out crime, disorder and other criminal matters.
- To assist Police Controllers to allocate an appropriate response to incidents occurring in the areas within the field of vision of the surveillance equipment.
- To assist the local authority with enforcement information and action under its licensing powers.
- All the CCTV operators are fully trained and work to a strict code of practice governing the use of the CCTV.
Data Protection Act 1998
The Town Council is aware of and undertakes to comply with the requirements of the above Act in its CCTV monitoring system. It will follow not only those standards which are necessary to ensure compliance, but also it will operate with regard to those standards recommended as good practice.
Human Rights Act 1998
The Town Council complies with the European Convention on Human Rights which is directly enforceable under UK law. In principle, there is little change required in the practices and guidelines the Council has created but the penalties have increased if this good practice is not carried out, and the monitoring falls outside those objectives stated.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Council is bound by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which encourages a presumption of disclosure of information by public authorities to the public upon request. Any request for disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will however be considered in the light of the Authority’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998, and in the event of a conflict, the authority shall decide whether it is in the public interest to disclose the requested information.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)
Legislation seeks to ensure that all investigations carried out which may be considered to be covert or intrusive, are certified by an appropriate officer who must be an authorising officer at least two grades above the person in charge of the investigation.
It is possible that the Council’s CCTV service may be called upon to assist in such an investigation and in that case it is essential that the Council be also covered by receipt of the authorisation.
Within the CCTV code of practice at no time would any third party be permitted to operate CCTV equipment.
Subject Access Request Form
You have the right to request information held about you, including CCTV footage of you in public spaces using a specific form. There may be restrictions on this data. We will not release images if doing so would have an impact upon a criminal investigation or infringe upon another person’s privacy.
Disclosure Policy
For criminal matters, the Council will expect to provide evidence via the procedures laid down by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1996.
For further information about the Redruth public realm CCTV please email the Town Council.