THE 9th ANNUAL PUBLIC SECTOR CCTV CONFERENCE – 29 SEPTEMBER 2010

LOCAL AUTHORITY CCTV 2010
Strategic Planning for Future Regulation and Budget-Reduction

Wednesday 29th September 2010

Local Government House, Smith Square, Westminster, SW1

The Morning Programme

The Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill – The Impact on Public Sector CCTV
Andrew Rennision, Interim CCTV Regulator

The Queen’s Speech set out the Government’s intention of introducing a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill. This Bill is expected to include clauses to protect privacy by introducing new legislation to regulate the use of CCTV. This address will look at possible clauses and impact on Local Authority CCTV Services.

Data Protection – What Will Change?

Office of the Information Commissioner

With the new Government’s stated aim of increasing privacy and rolling back central government, significant changes in the regulation of data, including that from CCTV, is likely. In this presentation the Information Commissioner’s office will provide a view on the likely changes over the next couple of years as well as their own view on data handling.

Questions and Discussion

The Future of RIPA

Sam Lincoln, Chief Surveillance Inspector, Office of the Surveillance Commissioner

RIPA has recently received a great deal of press attention following the publication of “The Grim Ripa” - a major report recently released by Big Brother Watch. With a new Government committed to increasing individual privacy it is likely that powers surrounding RIPA will change. In this presentation the Chief Surveillance Inspector presents a view on the findings from the research and his expectations of Government amendments to RIPA.

A Future Model for CCTV Operations - “Primary Consideration to the Public”
Martin Beaumont, CCTV Manager, Cambridge City Council

Cambridgeshire City Council has been mentioned by the Liberal Democrats as providing a possible blueprint for other local authorities in its usage of CCTV. The council states in its CCTV scheme code of practice that it gives "primary consideration" to the public in the operation of its camera network. Future legislation could create a mandated national strategy about where and when CCTV can be used; authorities might therefore consider a strategic move to the Cambridgeshire model in preparation.

  Preparation for Budget Reduction

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Jane Hutt, AM, Minister for Business and Budget, the Welsh Assembly

The Welsh Assembly’s has introduced an ‘Efficiency and Innovation Programme’ in order to continue to drive forward efficiencies. The Board have recently facilitated the development of a single CCTV infrastructure and control room for all authorities and Government Agencies in North Wales. The minister responsible for this programme, Jane Hutt AM, will provide an address on this programme and how efficiencies in public sector CCTV have been achieved.

A New Outsourced Model for CCTV Management
Steve Farley, CCTV Manager, Bexley Council

The London Borough of Bexley is one of the first local authorities to adopt a new outsourced model to their public sector CCTV. This new model has been put in place to reduce the long-term costs of security across the borough. The partnership has developed a community safety centre which has been built, not only to monitor the Council’s existing CCTV cameras, but also with the capacity to monitor additional systems across Bexley (in line with Total Place thinking) and even offer services outside the borough. Some of the income generated will help to offset the overall service costs

Service Review and Rationalisation

Claire Hughes, Community Regeneration Manager, Havant Borough Council

Public Sector budgets will reduce significantly in the next couple of years. This presentation provides a case study of an authority that has reduced its CCTV budget through full service review and rationalisation. Havant Borough Council has reduced the number of cameras monitored after reviewing system efficiency. It is thought that the new system will save the council £80,000 a year following the removal of cameras that did not pick up enough crimes to justify the annual £3,000 maintenance costs. This address looks at the review procedure and the implementation of efficiencies in the CCTV system.

Chair’s Concluding Remarks

Martin Davis, Director - Community Development Associates

STREAM 1:

The Development of Operational Standards

Martin Lazell, Public Sector CCTV Managers Group (PCMA)
CCTV Manager, Kingston-upon Thames

This address examines the need for the development of operational standards in public sector CCTV. This is an important area given that in many local authorities there is a lack of understanding by chief officers and councillors of the skill types needed for CCTV management, together with a lack of any nationally recognised qualifications. This area is increasingly important with all aspects of the public sector needing to prove greater efficiency.

STREAM 2:

he Use of Head-Cams in tackling Anti-Social Behaviour – Case Study

Cornwall County Council / Devon and Cornwall Police

The use of “head-cams” (CCTV cameras attached to helmets) in Cornwall has attracted a great deal of press attention. These are utilised by the council and local police to record incidents of anti-social behaviour. The use of the cameras has been linked to a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the county and this workshop looks at the technology and uses of body-worn CCTV.

Conference End