Southwark CCTV Strategy , item 8. PDF 110 KB - Southwark Council

v 25 Jan 10Key Actions2.2 The Safer Southwark Partnership strategic assessment process and rolling plan2010/11 will identify priority locations and crimes in Southwark where CCTV will bemost effective.2.3 Incorporate the analytical and intelligence outcomes of CCTV in the Safer SouthwarkPartnership hallmarks of effective partnership.2.4 Improved performance monitoring and evaluation of cameras will be developed.Ineffective cameras will be moved.3. Working in PartnershipCCTV is most effective when it is part of a co-ordinated approach to a defined problem andthis is best done across the Council and with other partners such as the Police, voluntarysector, Business Improvement Districts, local communities and other members ofSouthwark’s Local Strategic Partnership. This may include providing best practice advice,co-ordination between CCTV schemes to tackle an identified crime or anti-social behaviourproblem, and partnership with other CCTV schemes to reduce costs.The Council’s CCTV operators need frontline officers, residents and businesses to contactthe monitoring suite if they think a crime is about to happen, is happening or has happened.CCTV Operators are skilled in identifying incidents but it might not always be obvious tothem. For example, if a shop worker has been the victim of a crime or abuse within theirpremises they could call the monitoring suite to identify the perpetrator leaving the premises.The Transport for London Camera sharing initiative is an example of CCTV partnership.This will give the Council access to an additional 64 cameras in Southwark, in prioritylocations identified by the Safer Southwark Strategic assessment 2009/10. This initiative willmake best use of public resources and provides access to locations where the Council hasfew or no CCTV cameras such as the Old Kent Road.Key Recommendation3.1. To work with other public space CCTV schemes to improve co-ordination andexplore potential for sharing costs.Key Actions3.2 Provide regular training and advice for partners to get the most out of CCTV.3.3 We will work with Business Improvement Districts and other organisations to makebetter use of existing CCTV systems (public and private) around the Borough andBankside crime hotspot.3.4 Southwark’s CCTV monitoring suite will routinely provide information to help SaferSouthwark Partners tackle problems more effectively.4. Effective Council CCTVSouthwark Council operates a public space CCTV system of 160 cameras monitored in twoCCTV monitoring suites: one primarily focusing on parking and other traffic infringements,and the other on crime and anti-social behaviour. 22 of the cameras are relocatable. Crimetakes priority if an incident is witnessed during use by parking enforcement. This CCTVsystem is operated in partnership with the Police.There are other CCTV resources within the Council; local systems on housing estates;Parking Services use CCTV mounted in cars; specialist Sentryscope cameras are used inopen spaces, and the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team has 7 locally recording,4

v 25 Jan 10• Demonstrate need for fixed cameras rather than relocatables. (New fixed CCTVlocations should first be tested by relocatable CCTV).The Council will introduce a formal sign-off process based on the above criteria forany proposals to introduce new fixed CCTV.4.4 Upgrade the CCTV monitoring suite to digital and consider co-locating parkingenforcement and crime and disorder CCTV monitoring suites.4.5 Review the need for CCTV cameras and other equipment near or beyond its lifeexpectancy. Cameras that are not cost effective will not be replaced.4.6 A CCTV asset management plan to be agreed across Environment and Housing.4.7 Review relevant contracts across Environment and Housing, and Corporate FacilitiesManagement to identify efficiencies in repairs and maintenance and monitoring costs.4.8 The Council aims to reduce transmission costs of CCTV by:ooooRoutinely considering laying borough fibre as part of street improvementsUtilising the MUSCO schemeIdentifying funding opportunities for cheaper relocatable CCTV such as radionodes.‘Designing in’ infra-structure for fixed or re-locatable cameras at an early stage ofredevelopments such as Aylesbury and Heygate.4.9 Southwark Council’s Community Safety relocatable cameras will be tasked by thePartnership Operations Group in line with Safer Southwark Priorities.5. ProportionateCCTV is a valuable tool for reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and managing thepublic realm but it must be used proportionately to maintain the confidence and support ofthe public. Southwark’s CCTV system is governed by a CCTV Code of Practice to ensureits use is proportionate, that images can only be viewed by authorised officers, that imagesnot required as evidence are deleted after 31 days and that the Council is meeting all legalrequirements. Independent audit visits to the CCTV monitoring suite will provide additionallevel of auditing for compliance with the CCTV Code of Practice.The Council can assist partners to establish their own codes of practice and operatingprocedures.Key Recommendation5.1 To establish independent auditing of the CCTV monitoring suite.Key Actions5.2 Carry out an assessment and review to ensure that London Borough of SouthwarkCCTV cameras comply with the CCTV Code of Practice. This includes stand-alonesystems not connected to the central monitoring suite.6. CommunicationsResidents and businesses need feedback about how the cameras are performing in theirareas to maintain confidence in the system and to encourage reporting.6