CCTV services provided by Bromsgrove District Council have been praised by the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner for their ‘excellent and most commendable commitment to privacy and quality’.
The Commissioner, who is appointed by the Home Secretary, made the remarks as he certified the services as compliant with all the relevant laws and code of practice for surveillance cameras, following an independent inspection.
As well as Bromsgrove, the district council also provides CCTV for Redditch borough and Wyre Forest district.
IQ Verify independent assessors confirmed – when it came to operating surveillance camera systems in public places – it complied with the Secretary of State’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
Bromsgrove District Council’s CCTV and Telecare Manager Rachel Nicholls said the authority always strove for excellence and prided itself on respecting people’s privacy and civil liberties.
“It’s vital that we stay on our toes and give everyone that ongoing confidence that our local CCTV service is transparent, lawful, and proportionate.
“Our standards and reputation are important not just for the vulnerable people we’re on call for 24/7, but also so that our partners in the police and elsewhere know they can rely on our high professional standards so they can do their jobs effectively.
“Demonstrating compliance like this is an essential part of that.”
Coun Margaret Sherrey, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “We have some absolutely superb staff working on the CCTV system.
“The fact our system covers both Redditch and Wyre Forest, as well as Bromsgrove, shows how progressive and highly-rated it is and it generates income for the council during these times of increased financial pressure.”
