Security Vs. Privacy – Standards for Surveillance Cameras in Public Places

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Surveillance cameras guidelines were issued in the UK in order to assure that the public is protected, but not spied on. Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter recently launched a consultation on a draft national surveillance camera strategy for England and Wales.

This strategy aims to provide direction and leadership in the surveillance camera community to enable system operators to understand best practice and their legal obligations (such as those contained within the Data Protection Act and the Private Security Industry Act), according to the UK governmet website. It also aims to enable the surveillance camera community to demonstrate compliance with the principles of the surveillance camera code of practice and other guidance.

Porter explained to the register.co.uk what “surveillance by consent” meant: “For me, it means that this public space surveillance – which doesn’t sit under a specific legislative framework – is trusted by the public to be there for its needs,” Porter said. It means that the community knows that “surveillance is there to protect them, and not spy on them.”

Only a year ago, less than 2% of public authorities operating surveillance cameras were doing so in compliance to “any British standard” according to Porter, who says that as of today 85% are now demonstrably “having regard” for the Home Office’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

The register.co.uk reports that turnover for the video and CCTV surveillance sector topped £2.12bn in the UK in 2015. According to the most recent estimates – from 2013 – there are potentially over six million CCTV cameras in the UK, and that is not including body-cam footage, unmanned aerial vehicles, or the automatic number plate recognition system. Porter considers the number of cameras is probably much higher.

The commissioner’s strategic vision is to assure the public that surveillance cameras in public places are there to keep and make them feel safe, and that those cameras are deployed and used responsibly, as well as transparently, in a manner which is proportionate to their legitimate purpose.

The strategy has been divided into 10 key work strands each led by sector expert. Objectives have been developed for each strand with a supporting delivery plan setting out specific actions and outputs, which contribute towards achieving the strategic mission. Delivery plans will be completed and published in 2017.

The commissioner is consulting on the draft strategy for 6 weeks and people can respond to the consultation via the SCC website.