Kettering's CCTV Surveillance Legality Questioned

North Northamptonshire Council's CCTV cameras in three Kettering parks may have been operated illegally.

08:07 19 January 2022

The legality of the installation and operation of surveillance cameras in three Kettering parks is being questioned after it was found that they lacked signs required by data protection regulations. 

 

Council-run CCTV cameras at the Rockingham Road Pleasure Park, North Park and Mill Road Park have been in operation since last spring as part of a £150,000 project to make the town safer. North Northamptonshire Council has since received complaints over its failure to put signs required by data protection regulations, which means that park users may potentially have been illegally monitored. 

 

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said: “We have received a complaint about this matter and we will assess the information provided.”

 

In response, a council spokesman said: “CCTV plays a key role in keeping communities safe by helping in the prevention of crime and also through providing a source of evidence. CCTV operations are governed by a national code of practice with which we need to comply to ensure the system is operated in good faith.

 

“The code of practice refers to ‘letting people know’ where surveillance systems are in operation, stating that signage is put in place. We have signage in place, however, as concerns have been raised regarding particular sites and their signs, we will investigate and see whether any adjustments need to be made.

 

“We continually monitor our CCTV portfolio and the infrastructure is part of an ongoing maintenance programme.

 

“The money from the office of the police, fire and crime commissioner was awarded to a predecessor authority and is now part of this council’s maintenance budget. Going forward the whole CCTV network across the council area will be reviewed as part of the service harmonisation work across north Northamptonshire.”