In this section:

  1. CCTV CCTV
  2. Requests and Payments for CCTV footage Requests and Payments for CCTV footage
  3. Installing CCTV on residential property Installing CCTV on residential property

CCTV

Contact us

Data Storage/retention periods. Contact [email protected]. Telephone 020 7974 4444 ask for CCTV.

Camden operates CCTV (Camden Code of Practice) on the council’s housing estates, highways and buildings. It is one of the many tools used for the purpose of assisting in detecting and deterring crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB); and ensuring the safety and security of employees, members of the public, and the council’s buildings and assets. Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) CCTV is neither managed or installed under the Councils CCTV governance or maintenance contract.

Other interventions are encouraged prior to installing CCTV. Interventions will include but are not limited to: design out crime projects, patrolling services, and identifying other resources and shared objectives with partners.

Camden has the responsibility for enforcement of the borough’s parking and moving traffic regulations and to promote compliance with these regulations. This is carried out in part through CCTV. To find out more including if you have received a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) check here.

Camden operates CCTV 24/7, 365 days a year in partnership with the council’s Trading Standards, Environmental Services, Police, other Emergency services, Transport for London (TFL), Camden Businesses and other stakeholders.

Rapid Deployable Cameras (RDC)

The council owns a small number of Rapidly Deployable Cameras (RDC) also known as temporary CCTV. These cameras work via 4G, are not dependant on a wireless network, easily moved around from location to location and are migrated into the council’s CCTV control room’s main system, providing real-time images and recorded downloads. 

Most RDCs are already deployed around the borough. They are used as a quick, temporary response to developing safety and security issues identified by Community Safety Team and or Responsive Security Patrol (RSP).

These cameras are deployed in locations for a set period of time. Thereafter, activity of the camera assessed to determine if the camera needs to remain for another set period, relocate to another location requiring the camera or 
removed back to stores until required.

Our CCTV objectives are

  • To deter crime and anti-social behaviour
  • To detect crime and provide evidential material for court proceedings
  • To reduce the fear of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour and promote feelings of safety
  • To detect and prevent environmental issues
  • To assist in civil proceedings
  • To assist the Local Authority in its enforcement and regulatory functions.
  • To assist in Traffic and parking Management
  • To identify and or monitor risk and vulnerability
  • To enhance community safety, assisting in developing the economic well-being of Camden and encourage greater use of the borough's public spaces.

See for Camden's camera signs

Our CCTV is governed by the following legislation to protect your rights and privacy

CCTV may be regarded by some as an infringement of people's liberty. CCTV systems must not only be used with the utmost integrity at all times, they must be used in a manner which stands up to scrutiny and is accountable to the very people they are aiming to protect.

CCTV can have negative effects on privacy, as people do not always want to feel ‘watched’ or ‘under surveillance’. It is important to make sure that all CCTV is used correctly, and only where needed. CCTV use must be accountable and open to scrutiny.

Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life. Although the use of CCTV cameras has become widely accepted in the UK as an effective security tool, those people who do express concern tend to do so over the handling of the information (data) which the system gathers. Where there is high risk of privacy intrusion we take measures to restrict the scope of the cameras.

For independent advice and guidance on surveillance cameras you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office or helpline on 08456 30 60 60.

Those operating CCTV

All our CCTV Operatives hold valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) Licence, BTEC Level 2 in CCTV Operations. They are also Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked and are also Non-Police Personnel Vetted Level 1 (NPPV1). CCTV Data and Governance Manager trained to BTEC level standard for Managing CCTV Control Rooms.

Data Storage/retention periods

Data Storage/retention periods held for 31 calendar days before automatic erasure. You will need to request in writing footage you require, within 31 days of the incident date to avoid data being automatically erased. Your footage will then be securely saved until you require. Should you require we hold your saved data for a longer period please request this in writing.

Complaints and Data Protection concerns

Camden council takes CCTV Surveillance concerns or complaints very seriously. Should you wish to raise a data protection concern or make a complaint please contact the council’s complaints or Data Protection Team.

Types of disclosure

Road Traffic Collisions, Incidents, Insurance companies and solicitors

If you’ve been involved in a road accident, and are the registered keeper of the vehicle then you can request access to CCTV images of the incident (if available) through your insurance company. You will need your insurer to make the request and provide scanned copies of 2 official documents showing your name, date of birth and address. For example, your:

  • passport
  • birth certificate
  • driving licence
  • utility bill current
  • other recognised ID

You should also:

  • give an accurate location of the incident to the nearest junction
  • supply the make, model and colour of the vehicle(s) involved
  • give as much detail as possible of the incident

We only supply images of the registered keeper requesting the information, and we would not supply images with third party (other people’s) pictures in unless we felt it was appropriate to do so in the circumstances. We may decline a request if insufficient or inaccurate information is provided, the CCTV footage is likely to become part of a criminal investigation or we are unable to obscure other identifiable persons and we feel it is inappropriate to release the data without obscuring them.

Responsive Security Patrol

CCTV operate alongside our Security Patrol where CCTV cameras are available. Should you wish to contact security patrol please contact 020 7974 4444 or email [email protected]

What do they do?

Responsive Security Patrol consists of 5 vehicles transporting them around the borough, each vehicle with two RSP officers. They patrol on foot and in vehicles on council’s residential housing land. Providing pro-active and reactive response to calls and intelligence received about ASB occurring on Council Housing land. Calls can be made by anyone i.e. council tenant, leaseholder or non-council residents.

Purpose of RSP service

  • To deter, detect and disrupt Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) within council Housing land/premises
  • Responding to reports of ASB conducting foot patrols in a safe and proportionate manner
  • To ensure objective, factual and clear reports generated following each task attended
  • To ensure escalating situations and public order issues responded to appropriately
  • Where there are CCTV resources, CCTV deployed in support of RSP addressing ASB 
  • To engage with residents, members of the community and businesses providing reassurance
  • Gathering intelligence feeding back to council via incident reporting
  • To engage with perpetrators/reported individuals using restorative approaches
  • Attend community engagement meetings 

Key Points

  • Conduct Welfare Tenants checks
  • High visibility foot and vehicle patrol
  • Full PPE including Body Worn Video 
  • Vehicle CCTV
  • Two-Way Radios
  • GPS vehicles tracking. Some of the benefits of real-time tracking allowing for 
    • estimated destination arrival
    • efficient route planning
    • safety and security of staff and vehicle
    • driver behaviour
  • Reports completed for each visit, can assist Housing Officers with residents on specific issues
  • You can report anything from Noise Nuisance, Disturbances, Rough Sleeping, Alcohol Use, Drug Use, Motor Vehicles and Ball Games etc.
  • Provided with call Unique reference number should you wish when you telephone
  • Call back facility should you wish after you have reported for RSP to attend
  • Anonymous calls should you wish you do not need to provide any personal details when reporting
  • Available 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, Mon – Sun, 4pm to 4am
  • A contact point of physical refuge
  • Information contact of local area
  • Emergency co-ordinators (flood in properties, property evacuations etc.)
  • Partnership working with agencies such as Police, Safer Streets Team and Community Presence Officers (CPO) 

Body Worn Video

Body Worn Video (BWV) captures images and audio in real time. Camden Council is the data controller. Data is managed under the same governance as for the Council’s CCTV.

Body Worn Videos are deployed by Responsive Security Patrol (RSP) and Security Officers as part of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and is affixed to their uniform for:

  • personal safety and security, to reduce personal threats and physical harm
  • a tool to deter crime, anti-social behaviour, identify health and safety identify those causing physical or verbal abuse
  • reduce incidences of public disorder
  • provide an indisputable account of an incident 
  • supporting information to pocket book reports - it is not a replacement for this
  • the prevention and detection of crime, through the gathering of intelligence, including use of images and sound as evidence in criminal and or civil proceedings
  • present evidence to support council procedures
  • identification of training needs.

Housing CCTV upgrade project

January 2019 a proposal was put forward to update the CCTV network across Camden’s housing estates. This was in response to numerous requests from TRAs to improve and enhance the CCTV coverage on their estates.

The current Council CCTV network and cameras are old and cannot support modern technology. A proposal was put forward to replace the wireless network across the borough and then install new, higher quality digital CCTV which would work better with the new council CCTV control room.

The proposed new CCTV and wireless network across Camden will cost in the region of £4-5m

Spring 2022 began the first stage installing the new dedicated CCTV wireless network. This work is being done in three stages with the first stage almost completed.

Before we install new cameras, we carry out a detailed walkabout with resident representatives, CCTV engineers and our CCTV design consultant. Officers also take on board data of threat, risk, harm and vulnerability from the Police, the Responsive Security Patrols and the Community Safety team. 

Summer 2022 new camera installations have also begun. Residents are being notified via posted letters when noisy works will be occurring on their estate/block.

Access to residents front or rear gardens

Occasionally as part of the upgrade works, CCTV Engineers will require access to either the front or rear of residents properties.

Where a property is identified, we will write to you personally informing you of the proposed date and time Engineers will require access. Access inside your property will never be required. CCTV Engineers all have Camden ID badges. Should you wish to cross check the ID card is genuine please telephone: Contact Camden on 020 7974 4444 and asked to be put through to CCTV. 

To find out more about the CCTV Housing Upgrade specific to your estate/block check here.

If residents are experiencing crime they are encouraged to report to Police on 101 or 999 if urgent.

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to the council’s Community Safety Team on [email protected] and for the Council’s Responsive Security Patrols (RSP) between 4pm and 4am Mon-Sun telephone 020 7974 4444.

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