Smart Technology For A Smart City

From today 48 Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO) will all be equipped with body cameras through a £34k investment by the City of Cardiff Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new cameras can only be used if a CEO believes they are being threatened or there is potential for conflict to happen. The cameras are mounted on a clip attached to the CEO’s uniform and capture a 130° angle with both video and sound recorded in high definition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “This investment will act as an independent witness to any incident. These officers carry out difficult roles and are ambassadors to our city. Issues can arise though, as no one likes to receive a fine for over staying in a parking bay or parking illegally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If the CEO turns the camera on, then they will tell the member of the public beforehand. When the camera is turned on, the camera will bleep twice and the CEO will give a further reminder that they are being recorded. The member of the public will also be able to see their behaviour and the images being recorded from the front facing screen on the camera on the CEO’s uniform. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have carried out the correct assessment on how the cameras should be used and we realise that there is no need for continuous recording. We are striking the correct balance between protecting people’s privacy and protecting our workers’ health and safety while gathering essential evidence that can be used if the incident escalates. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There is always two sides to a story and the cameras will be a welcome addition for the officers that patrol our streets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All of the officers have received training on how to use the cameras and all of the data collected can only be accessed through the specific computer software that we are using. The entire process will be audited to ensure the cameras are not misused in any way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If an incident occurs which is captured by the body cameras, this can be retained by the Council and used as part of formal proceedings. Data will not be retained for longer than 30 days unless there is a legal requirement to do so. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following an incident, if a member of the public would like to request access to footage, they are entitled to request access through email FOI@cardiff.gov.uk or telephone our contact centre on 2087 2087. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​