CCTV

CCTV Update - January 2009

Once again Huntingdonshire District Council's CCTV team have been totally committed and extremely busy to enhance the safety of Huntingdonshire's town centres. During the calendar year of 2008 they were involved 2257 incidents and assisted with 427 arrests. These incidents are not purely crime or anti-social behaviour related but include incidents such as searching for missing children or vulnerable people. The value of this type of service is virtually impossible to quantify. Who can know what may have been prevented!

The arrest figures do not include those arrests made by police officers following retrospective viewing of the recorded images.

Working in the new purpose built control room has enabled us to provide an even better service to the local police and other organisations. The digital recording system has given 'instant replay' ability enabling the CCTV staff to clarify evidence instantly when required thus giving far more accurate information to the police officers at the scene.

2008 has also seen the installation of new CCTV cameras in Yaxley and Godmanchester. This has included working in partnership with the Environment Agency, who funded a camera at Godmanchester Lock which is monitored in our control room. This has reduced the anti-social behaviour at this location and made it a safer and more pleasurable experience for people using this facility.

The use of the Mobile CCTV Unit has developed considerably during this year. A full report on this can be obtained by clicking on the link on this page.

The CCTV scheme continues to promote its close liaison with Huntingdonshire Business Against Crime (HBAC) and its Shopwatch radio system enabling members to be in radio contact with each other and the CCTV control room thus having a major impact on shop related crime. This has included the development of a programme to work with the pubs and clubs in St. Ives. The result of this being a very busy - but virtually trouble free - Christmas and New Year period!

This organisation covers the business in Huntingdon, St. Ives and St. Neots. Further details of HBAC can be obtained by telephoning 01480-457579 or by clicking the link on this page.

Huntingdonshire's CCTV Scheme

Huntingdonshire District Council’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Scheme covers the town centres and District Council controlled car parks of Huntingdon, Godmanchester, Yaxley, Ramsey, St. Ives and St. Neots.

In addition it also covers the Huntingdon, St. Ives and St. Neots Recreation Centres; as well as Mayfield Road and Sapley Square shopping areas and part of the St. Peters Road Industrial Estate in Huntingdon.

The CCTV control room also monitors pictures from alarm activated cameras in Hinchingbrooke Country Park, St. Barnabus Church Centre in Huntingdon and the new Memorial Centre in Brampton.

The control room, is located in Eastfield House, Latham Road, Huntingdon where all the cameras are monitored and recorded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is no right of access to anyone other than authorised staff, those permitted for reviewing of recorded images or organised visits which are supervised by the CCTV Manager.

There ia also a facility to transmit live images to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Communication Centre at Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon. They are only able to view the images and do not have the facility to control the cameras or record the images.

Aims and Objectives of the Scheme

To deter crime;
To assist in the detection of crime;
To reduce the fear of crime;
To improve public protection;
To improve the safety and security of residents, visitors and the business community who use the facilities in the
District;
To facilitate the apprehension and prosecution of offenders in both crime and
public order offences;
To deter vandalism;
To discourage anti-social behaviour, including alcohol and drug related issues;
To enhance generally the environment and
thereby improve the enjoyment of the District’s facilities by all who use them.

Operation of the Scheme

The CCTV Scheme is owned and operated by Huntingdonshire District Council. It is intended to detect and/or deter criminal and anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime and so no interest is shown in people carrying out their legitimate business. The scheme is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Signs stating that CCTV cameras are operating are displayed in all the areas covered by the scheme.

The CCTV scheme is operated within a strict Code of Practice which is currently being updated (copies of which are available for inspection on request and by following the link on the right of this page). The viewing of private areas is strictly prohibited within this code.

Targeted observations are only undertaken within the scope of the key objectives set out in the Code of Practice and in accordance with both the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

All information is recorded onto digital hard drives and is retained for a maximum of 28 days during which time the Police may apply for access to the images for investigatory purposes. Under no circumstances is recorded information sold for commercial purposes or the provision of entertainment.

Photographs obtained from the recorded images are only produced to aid identification of offenders and are destroyed when no longer required.

All CCTV operators receive a high standard of training and act with the utmost integrity and within the bounds of the Code of Practice.

Police requests to view image recordings or photographs have to be authorised and must comply with the objectives of the scheme.

Subject Access

If you wish to exercise your rights of subject access as provided for in Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 you will be required to make the request in writing on a Subject Access Request Form. All requests for subject access will be dealt with by the Director of Operational Services or a nominated deputy.

A written response to the request will be provided within 21 days of receipt, either setting out the steps intended to be taken to comply with the request or setting out the reasons for refusing the request.

A fee, not exceeding the prescribed maximum set by the Data Protection Commission, will be levied for the request. The Council also retain the right to charge an additional fee to cover its legitimate expenditure in fulfilling a subsequent request to view the data.

Complaints Procedure

If you have any cause to complain about any aspect of the Authority’s CCTV Scheme then you should contact, in writing, the Director of Operational Services at the address below.

For further information concerning the CCTV scheme and its operation please contact the CCTV Manager at the following address :

Huntingdonshire District Council, Pathfinder House, St. Mary's Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3TN.

Or telephone 01480 388388.