CCTV

Closed Circuit Television

Introduction:

The Council Manages CCTV in its town centres, high streets, heavily congested roads, accident black spots, housing estates and some small shopping parades. Nexus has ownership of the Metro system cameras. The systems are active 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

The Council currently has 93 cameras in a number of locations

> View camera locations

The purpose of the systems is to:

  • To deter and detect criminal activity
  • To identify suspects
  • To gather evidence
  • To gather intelligence on suspects
  • To aid in prosecutions
  • To monitor anti-social behaviour and acts or events which endanger the public and Employees' health and safety
  • To assist the emergency services
  • Traffic management and assisting the Town Centre Manager in the day-to-day operations of the town centre.

The system at no time will be used to look into private residences or private premises. No sound recording facility is used in any public area. All taped imaged will be kept for 30 days and are strictly controlled within the council procedures only authorised people will have access to the images.

The Council is committed to complying with the Code of Practice and the Data Protection Act 1998. Ensuring that the public is kept informed and consulted on future developments of the system.

> More about the Data Protection Act.

South Tyneside Council is registered with the Data Protection Commissioner for its Central Control Unit CCTV operations and will abide by the constraints laid down within the Data Protection Act 1998.

Disclosure of recorded images can be made to:

  • The Police or other law enforcement officer
  • Prosecution agencies and relevant legal representatives
  • The media - only if it believed that the public could assist in the identification of a person
  • A person who image has been recorded or retained.

> Find out who is eligible