Surveillance Camera Code of Practice consultation

The compliance section of the online portal, CCTV Logbook, aims to give you the peace of mind that you are following the 12 Guiding Principles of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and meeting your data protection obligations which aim to protect the privacy of individuals.

Subscribers to the CCTV Logbook compliance package are taken through the Guiding Principles in a step-by-step process. Now, following legislative changes since the Code was launched in 2013, a revised version of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice has been published. The legislative changes are the passing of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018), and the judgment in Bridges v South Wales Police, which covered the use of facial recognition by law enforcement bodies.

The Government is seeking comment on these changes. The recently-appointed Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Professor Fraser Sampson, who is responsible for encouraging compliance with the code and reviewing how it is working, is keen for all stakeholders to respond to the consultation. The deadline for responses is 8th September.

As a statutory consultee, the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner has been invited by the Home Office to make formal comments on the proposed revisions to the Code, which will be submitted and made available on his website shortly.

The Code, issued under section 30 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA), provides guidance on the appropriate use of surveillance camera systems by relevant authorities (generally local authorities and the police) in England and Wales, who have a legal duty to pay regard to the principles of the Code when operating overt surveillance camera systems in public places. All other operators of surveillance camera systems are encouraged to adopt the principles of the Code on a voluntary basis.

As our video shows adopting the Code will mean you have a clear purpose for your CCTV system and that you have considered the effect of the system on the privacy of individuals. There also needs to be clear rules and policies in place around the operation of the system and these need to be regularly reviewed. Adopting the Guiding Principles will also mean that you are meeting your data protection obligations which are enforced by the Information Commissioner.

If you want to know more about how we can support you to manage your CCTV system assets and your CCTV compliance to give you peace of mind contact us, book a free product tour or sign up for a free trial now.