CCTV Policy
The Company may use closed circuit television (CCTV) images to provide a safe and secure environment for employees and visitors to the Company’s business premises, such as clients, customers, contractors and suppliers, and to protect the Company’s property.
This policy sets out the use and management of the CCTV equipment and images in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the CCTV Code of Practice.
The Company’s CCTV facility records images only.
There is no audio recording i.e. conversations are not recorded on CCTV (but see the section on covert recording).
Purposes of CCTV
The purposes of the Company installing and using CCTV systems include:
- To assist in the prevention or detection of crime or equivalent malpractice.
- To assist in the identification and prosecution of offenders.
- To monitor the security of the Company’s business premises.
- To ensure that health and safety rules and Company procedures are being complied with.
- To assist with the identification of unauthorised actions or unsafe working practices that might result in disciplinary proceedings being instituted against employees and to assist in providing relevant evidence.
- To promote productivity and efficiency.
Location of cameras
All cameras will be clearly visible.
Appropriate signs are prominently displayed so that employees, clients, customers and other visitors are aware they are entering an area covered by CCTV.
Access to and disclosure of images
Access to, and disclosure of, images recorded on CCTV is restricted. This ensures that the rights of individuals are retained.
Images can only be disclosed in accordance with the purposes for which they were originally collected.
Disclosure of images to other third parties will only be made in accordance with the purposes for which the system is used and will be limited to:
- The police and other law enforcement agencies, where the images recorded could assist in the prevention or detection of a crime or the identification and prosecution of an offender or the identification of a victim or witness.
- Prosecution agencies, such as the Crown Prosecution Service.
- Relevant legal representatives.
- Line managers involved with Company disciplinary and performance management processes.
- Individuals whose images have been recorded and retained (unless disclosure would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders).
The Managing Director of the Company (or another senior director acting in their absence) is the only person who is permitted to authorise disclosure of images to external third parties such as law enforcement agencies.
All requests for disclosure and access to images will be documented, including the date of the disclosure, to whom the images have been provided and the reasons why they are required.
If disclosure is denied, the reason will be recorded.
Individuals’ access rights
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, individuals have the right on request to receive a copy of the personal data that the Company holds about them, including CCTV images if they are recognisable from the image.
If you wish to access any CCTV images relating to you, you must make a written request to the Operations Director.
Your request must include the date and approximate time when the images were recorded and the location of the particular CCTV camera, so that the images can be easily located and your identity can be established as the person in the images.
The Company will respond promptly and in any case within 40 calendar days of receiving the request.
The Company will always check the identity of the employee making the request before processing it.
If the Company is unable to comply with your request because access could prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, you will be advised accordingly.
Staff training
The Company will ensure that all employees handling CCTV images or recordings are trained in the operation and administration of the CCTV system and on the impact of the Data Protection Act 1998 with regard to that system.
Implementation
The Practice Manager is responsible for the implementation of and compliance with this policy and the operation of the CCTV system and they will conduct a regular review of the Company’s use of CCTV.
Any complaints or enquiries about the operation of the Company’s CCTV system should be addressed to them.
For any other questiongs contact us on 01202 97 33 00.
