The primary aim of CCTV is to fulfil the Council’s commitment to
provide for a safe and secure environment for the benefit of those
who might visit, work, or live in the area.
CCTV first made an appearance at the Charlotte Street Car Park
in 1992 when 12 cameras were installed and monitored locally. In
November 1995 the CCTV facility was extended into Bath City Centre
with the installation of another 17 cameras and the introduction of
a 24hr CCTV Control Room located in the Guildhall.
Development over the last 8 years in partnership with Bath &
North East Somerset, Town Council’s, Police, Local Business, CCTV
Operators and the Community, has allowed the scheme to expand into
Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, and Radstock.
Development and growth of the CCTV system over a period of time
has resulted in the public confidence growing each year. New
extensions to the scheme have been overwhelmingly supported. Annual
year on year surveys show that the CCTV system provides a high
standard of customer and stakeholder satisfaction. The CCTV Annual
Report addresses public perception and awareness of the scheme and
includes statistics provided by the Police.
There are currently 85 high resolution colour pan, tilt and
zoom cameras, located in Radstock (5), Midsomer Norton (8),
Keynsham (8), and Bath (64). They cover public areas and car parks.
They are directly linked to a Central Control Room in Bath, where
highly trained operators ensure that their use is as effective as
possible. Pictures are recorded on a multiplex system. Incidents
seen by the operators are recorded on a separate spot monitor,
viewing and recording facility. Video evidence may be made
instantly available to the Police if required.
The 24 hour operational centre is the heart of the system,
with 33 TV monitors showing quad pictures from 85 cameras
in and around Bath City Centre, Charlotte Street Car Park,
Keynsham, Radstock, and Midsomer Norton. All cameras are able to be
programmed to carry out automatic tours to pre-set positions. When
an incident is spotted, operators are able to take manual control
of individual cameras by joystick.
All picture images from 79 strategically positioned fully
functional colour overt and six dome cameras are transmitted
by fibre-optic cables and microwave links in real time, and
recorded 24hrs a day from multiplexed pictures onto videotapes,
which are retained for a maximum of 31 days.
Within the Control Room is a separate viewing room containing
digital viewing equipment to facilitate the copying onto disc
recorded material for use by the Police. Recorded
material is stored automatically onto digital hard drives
and is kept for a period of 31 days (unless required for
evidential use) and then erased.
The CCTV system will only be used to:
- Enhance community safety
- Reduce crime and the fear of crime
- Deter anti-social behaviour, all within the bounds of an
approved Code of Practice. The Data Protection Act 1998, The Human
Rights Act 1998, and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
2000 also serve to protect the rights of the general
public.
- Instant picture information to the Police
- The Police are able to target their resources better.
- Cameras deter crime
- Detection / Identification and quicker apprehension of
suspects
- Prevention of incidents before they begin
- Instant assistance with accidents /people taken ill / collapsed
etc
- Quicker and more effective for finding lost or wanted
people.
During 2005 there were 756 (up from 531 in 2004)
requests from the Police to view videotapes of recorded
material for incidents. From these a total of 248 (an increase
from 161 in 2004) copy tapes were supplied for evidence. The
Council Licensing Team also make use of the facilities of the CCTV
Control Room while ensuring that correct access procedures were
observed. The CCTV Control Room in total have recorded 3467
incidents/potential incidents, those reported to the Police
resulted in 234 arrests between January and December 2005.
Bath and North East Somerset have a completely open policy on
the use of CCTV within the Authorities boundaries. All areas where
the cameras are in use are clearly signed so that members of the
public entering the CCTV areas of operation are made aware of their
presence. This is in keeping with the Data Protection guidelines,
as is the rights of subject access as provided for in section 7 of
the Data Protection Act 1998.
