Good Practice By Caerphilly’s CCTV Control Room Is Recognised

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Public Space CCTV Scheme is one of just a few public bodies to have successfully gained the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice accreditation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The service which was established in 1998 has been awarded Step 2 Full Accreditation of compliance from the Surveillance Camera Commissioner recognising that the authority is fully compliant with the code and the use of CCTV surveillance camera systems, which aims to balance the need for cameras in public places with individual’s right to privacy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 24 hour, year round service, monitors 153 cameras covering 28 town and village centres, annually dealing with over 3000 incidents in the county borough. The CCTV scheme offers assurance to the general public, assists with the detection of crime and antisocial behaviour and enables quick, direct referrals to the police and emergency services where required. Footage provided to the police of incidents can also be crucial in identifying suspects and the successful prosecution of offenders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Superintendent Nick McLain said, “We have a very strong partnership with the Local Authority that is aimed at ensuring people in Caerphilly are kept safe and we are really pleased that Caerphilly County Borough Council have been recognised in this way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All CCTV operators are also trained and hold a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence, and the control room has a National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Silver Award accreditation for the management and operation of the CCTV scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community & Leisure Services, said, “This is a fantastic accolade for the CCTV Service and indeed the operators who work tirelessly to provide a safe environment for the benefit of those who live, work, trade, visit and enjoy the facilities within the Caerphilly County Borough. Gaining the stage two accreditation confirms our compliance with the requirements of the code and ensures public confidence in our surveillance activities. The accreditation process also highlighted our CCTV web pages as an example of good practice which demonstrates the high importance we place on openness and transparency of the scheme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​