C.C.T.V. - Background

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's CCTV System has been in operation since 1996. The system consists of 210 cameras, 22 of which are owned by Bracknell Forest Borough Council which along with those owned by the Royal Borough are monitored on a 24 hour / 7 days a week basis by council employed staff in a purpose built control room. The system operates in accordance with a Code of Practice that complies with current legislation including the Human Rights and Data Protection Acts as well as the Regulation of Investigatory Authorities Act, which regulates how statutory authorities carry out surveillance. The Council also operates a Community Radio system in the town centres of Windsor and Maidenhead that compliment the CCTV system. It is also part of a similar scheme operated within Bracknell Town Centre.

The CCTV Code of Practice (Revised Edition 2008) issued under the Data Protection Act by the Information Commissioner recommends that there should be a periodic review (at least annually) of the system's effectiveness. In accordance with this, the Royal Borough undertakes an assessment of its scheme at the end of each operating year to evaluate its effectiveness of the stated purpose of the scheme. If the scheme is found not to be achieving its purpose it should be discontinued or modified. 

The CCTV control room was also subject to an internal audit to ensure that its operation complies with legislation, its own Code of Practice and operating procedures. No irregularities in its operation were detected.

Under the Private Security Industry Act all contracted CCTV operators are required to obtain licences from the Security Industry Authority in order to operate CCTV in Public Space Surveillance. All those working within the CCTV Control Room are licensed operators.

All staff employed in the control room have been given Diversity and Equality presentations.