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How CCTV is used in the community
Closed circuit television (CCTV) operates in town centres, on some public transport routes and in other public areas to protect your community. CCTV images can be used as evidence in court and you can also request CCTV footage of yourself.
Requesting CCTV footage
You can only apply for access to information held on CCTV in specific circumstances. Access to images is generally restricted to the Police for evidence or to help tackle crime.
However, you can request access to CCTV images of yourself as long as the request is made in writing and gives enough detail to judge whether or not any CCTV images of you are held. This is because the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act of 2000 require public authorities to make any personal data held by them about a member of public available to that person.
If images of you are held, an edited copy will be shown to you. Editing takes place to make sure no one except you appears in the image(s) and that no other data which does not relate to you is shown, like a vehicle registration number which is not yours.
Contact your local council for more details.
CCTV footage as evidence
CCTV can help fight crime and disorder. It is occasionally used in court to as evidence to prove someone was in a certain place or did a certain thing.
CCTV can also help improve community safety by acting as a preventative tool, putting someone off committing a crime like robbery if they know their actions are being recorded.
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