Swale Borough Council seeks approval for new Public Space CCTV Policy

Swale council’s cabinet are being asked to approve a Public Space CCTV Policy that will outline how the in-house CCTV system is managed at next week’s cabinet meeting (22 Apr).

The new policy will outline how the council will manage the in-house CCTV network and new control room.

The CCTV system was bought back under council control when the previous contract with the Medway Commercial Group ended last month.

The council plan to upgrade the 52-camera system and has already set up a new control room at Bourne Place multi-storey car park to monitor crime and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community at the council, said:

“The new Public Space CCTV Policy outlines how we will manage the in-house CCTV system, including how we’ll use the cameras, what and how we monitor images and how we comply with legislation.

“The policy makes sure that we are in line with The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and are managing the cameras and images properly.

“We committed to a £250,000 upgrade when we brought the system in-house that will replace the cameras that are coming to the end of their lifespan with newer digital models and create a new control room.

“The control room is already up and running at Bourne Place multi-storey car park, and this new policy will outline how we use it to help us prevent and detect crime.

“The new CCTV system will help us prevent and detect crime, provide quality evidence to the police for prosecutions and manage emergencies and major incidents.”

View the report on the new policy here.

At last finding a use for the Bourne Place Multi Storey Eye-Sore!