Agenda item

OS/24/16                     CCTV CODE OF PRACTICE

J Still introduced the report and explained the new approach to CCTV.

J Guiton followed on from that explaining the legislation and the use for a surveillance camera commissioner and the code of practice which requires the Council to publish its own Code of Practice on the use of its CCTV systems to enable it to comply with the 12 guiding principles.

J Guiton explained that this is only a starting point and there is more to follow on in the long run.

J Guiton was happy to take questions on the report.

P Hearn referred to pages 17/18 on locations. There is no CCTV covering the Community Centre in Tring and they are keen to have one.

J Still said that they have been looking at this as it has become a problem area; this has been passed on to Adriana Livingstone in Estates. The code will need to be applied to see if there is a need to have CCTV. Shopping Centres normally manage their own CCTV; we don’t have a budget to have CCTV so the code will need to be applied.

P Hearn asked what the rough cost is for CCTV.

J Guiton said around ten thousand to install a CCTV camera.

P Hearn informed J Guiton that the Town Council has a small fund and is willing to help towards the maintenance cost if need be.

Cllr Harden arrived at 19:40

B Mclean asked when Villages are likely to get CCTV as he is aware that some Villages have minor drug problems as people are moving towards the Villages from Watford as they know there is no CCTV. Is there a criteria to look at?

J Guiton said yes that’s what the policy is for, it comes down to funding issues then CCTV has to be justified. Each year the CCTV has to be justified we cant just have a CCTV temporarily there has to be an on-going need for it.

B Mclean will gather data/evidence to put forward.

J Banks asked why the Grovehill CCTV isn’t used for anti-social behaviour or fly tipping.

J Guiton said the Enforcement Team deal with this, anything caught on CCTV is reported. The cameras are for public safety.

W Wyatt-Lowe asked if it was true that CCTV needs lighting and what happens when all the street lights are turned off and how many trained staff do you have.

J Guiton said the lighting does affect CCTV, where there are cameras there are lighting, these lights are left on. There are 8 full time staff and they have standby staff.

The Chairman said that you refer to appendix B&C but these are missing.

J Guiton said thats because it’s a public document they can’t have public knowing exactly where they are but are happy for Members to see the list.

It was agreed by Members that it doesn’t need to be added into the report.

The Chairman referred to page 22 offering services, would this help or hinder?

J Guiton said that it would help, we are offering our services to the private industry, we already have a potential contract with a school in the area; it’s an opportunity to generate income.

The Chairman also asked if the staff had CRB/DBS checks.

J Guiton said yes in fact it’s done twice.

B Mclean asked who looks after APR number plate recognition.

J Guiton said it’s the Police we only monitor one and that’s the one that goes through the Marlowe’s.

The Chairman asked if we have mobile cameras which we can use for events.

J Guiton said yes they have 5 deployable cameras which still have to go through a risk assessment when using them.

Action: None

Outcome: The report was noted.