CameraWatch is the UK’s independent, not-for-profit advisory body on Data Protection Act (DPA) compliance for CCTV.
Dr Taylor’s findings suggested that many schools regularly monitored school children by CCTV and were collecting these CCTV images illegally by failing under the Data Protection Act to inform pupils and visitors that they were being monitored.
Taylor, as part of her PHD, surveyed 24 secondary schools in the North West of England, of which 23 had CCTV in operation. She said in most cases, schools had an average of 20 cameras per site, with some installed in toilets.
Gordon Ferrie, chief executive of CameraWatch, said:” I am not surprised at Dr Taylor’s findings. Something has gone drastically wrong with our lawmakers and enforcers who continue to allow this to happen.
“It is now unacceptable that so little attention is being paid to camera surveillance and the Data Protection laws.
“It is insufficient for the Department of Children, Schools and Families to say that they leave Head Teachers to manage their own affairs.
“In CameraWatch’s considerable experience we have found that over 90 per cent of CCTV sites visited failed to comply with the Act. The schools examined by Dr Taylor have been found to be no different.
“It is no excuse to pass the buck to others when the law is clear. Children and families deserve protection. Frankly, the law is being abused.
“CameraWatch has completed a study into four English universities and has identified that only lip service is being paid to the law and CCTV compliance.
“CameraWatch favours the use of CCTV, but only when it is used correctly and in accordance with the law. Surely that is not too much to ask?
“I hope that the new coalition government’s Freedom Bill will address all of these issues. What is the point in a law that no-one bothers about – let’s get that extra ‘C’ into CCTV – Compliant CCTV.”
CCTV Compliance Assessment Scheme
In order to ensure that CCTV operators are compliant with the law, CameraWatch has introduced a CCTV Compliance Assessment Scheme.
However, of the eight in-depth assessments carried out, not one was compliant with the law – the best rating was 85 per cent and the least was 57 per cent, the organisation claims.
Paul Mackie, compliance director of CameraWatch, who presented the findings at the Forum, said: “For a country like the UK that depends on CCTV so much this is a dreadful state of affairs. What other walk of life would accept systems that flaunt the law like this?
“The positive message out of this is that these eight at least identified that they might have had issues – you can only solve problems once you identify what they are – and they took the positive action to be assessed.”
Since then, two of the eight have now been awarded the CameraWatch Platinum Level-1 Assessment: North Lanarkshire CCTV Ltd was the first in Scotland; and Bristol City Council Public Space CCTV was the first to received the award in England and Wales – the latter receiving its award at the London Forum.
Mackie said: “We now need other organisations to realise the legal requirements that must be satisfied when using CCTV.
“Let’s not assume that because the CCTV user is a national or local government or a multi-national company that they must surely be compliant – that is far from the truth I’m afraid.
Include other agencies
Mackie said The Information Commissioner requires not only more power but also more resources and effort to be able to tackle this problem before the public loses confidence in CCTV.
Legal organisations also need to appreciate the affect non-compliance will have on their clients and insurance companies do not appreciate the full implications of CCTV not complying with the law, he said.
However, CameraWatch praised the doomed Security Industry Authority. Mackie said: “The SIA has been a breath of fresh air and has realised the risk to one of the best crime fighting tools we have.
“SIA has fully supported CameraWatch and is looking to extend the quality and standards of the Approved Contractor Scheme by including CameraWatch-standard annual assessments.
“Everyone who has an interest in CCTV needs to appreciate the legal requirements and the implications of non-compliance. We all have to work together to ensure the confidence in this terrific crime fighting tool.”
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