The CCTV System
The System known as the Blaenau Gwent County Borough CCTV Surveillance System comprises of a number of cameras installed at strategic locations within the County. All of the cameras are fully operational with the facilities to pan, tilt and zoom.
All cameras within the system will not be installed in a covert manner. Some cameras are enclosed within all weather domes for aesthetic or operational reasons. Appropriate signs will identify the presence of cameras within the system area.
System Objectives
The Objectives of the CCTV System as determined by the owners Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council which form the lawful basis for processing data are:-
• To protect and enhance the quality of life for all elements of the populace, business community and visitors to Blaenau Gwent.
• To increase personal safety and reduce the fear of crime.
• To reduce the levels of street crime, public disorder, vandalism, the theft of and from cars both on streets and in car parks.
• To reduce graffiti and other criminal damage, thus improving the environment and reducing costs.
• To support the Police in a bid to deter and detect crime, identify, apprehend and prosecute offenders
• To assist other emergency services.
• To assist in the efficient management of the County areas covered by the CCTV system.
• To improve commercial confidence in the County
• To prevent mitigating interruptions of traffic flows.
For full details of the principals and criteria under which the system operates may be found in the CCTV Code of Practice. Copies of this Code are available free of charge from main Council Offices or click here.
Recorded Images
The CCTV System operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. All cameras are continuously recorded in multiplexed time-lapse mode. Additional recordings may be made of individual camera pictures in 3-hour (real time) mode.
All recordings are retained for a minimum of 28 days. If no legitimate request for retention of the recordings has been made it is then erased. All requests of recordings are considered against the prevision of the Data Protection Act and the CCTV Code of Practice.
The following principals guide storage, processing and use of recorded data obtained by the System:-
• Recorded data will only be used for the purpose defined in the Code of Practice in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
• Access to recorded data shall only take place in circumstances defined in the Code of Practice and the provisions of relevant legislation.
• Recorded data will not be sold or used for commercial purposes or entertainment.
• The showing of recorded data to the public will only be permitted in accordance with the law in relation to investigating, prosecution or prevention of crime.
• Data released shall remain the property of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.
