Concerned about the expanding coverage of CCTV in your Towns and Cities or does it make you feel safer?
- Number of CCTV cameras within Scotland has soared over the past 5 years to around 12,500 (Nearly a third more than 5 years ago)
- Coverage is rising faster in Scotland than the rest of the UK despite possible evidence suggesting it is not effective in tackling crime.
- It can follow people and track them.
- Moving forward Facial Recognition technology is being rolled out across the country to give a whole new level of surveillance.
Is it the slippery slope to BIG BROTHER or it for our safety?
Regulations for the use of Public space CCTV are as follows and should be adhered to by all operators of CCTV.
National Strategy for Public Space CCTV in Scotland
- Public space CCTV should aim to identify and apprehend offenders.
- Provide local authority and Police with evidence to take offenders to court.
- Help keep public order.
- To help reassure the public by reducing the fear of crime.
- Making the area safe for those people who live work in it and those who visit the area.
- Protecting the physical environment.
All operators of Public Space CCTV access Scotland should ensure that all Systems are operated fairly and within the law, including third party involvement.
- All Systems are operated using technology commensurate with the requirements under the Data Protection Act and that evidential data is provided to a nationally recognised standard format.
- All system providers of any system comply with the appropriate vetting and disclosure requirements and staffed with operators who have achieved a minimum standard of training and where required, are fully licensed to carry out CCTV monitoring work by the Security Industry Authority ( SIA).
- All system providers, while carrying out other duties in conjunction with Public Space CCTV, do not conflict with any of the other principles.
The Code of Practice and the Operational Manual are to reflect best practice in the use of Public Space CCTV and the requirements placed on the System’s operation considering the Human Rights Act 1998, the Data Protection Act 1998, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Information Commissioner’s CCTV Code of Practice – Revised