Park Cameras Investigation

Holbreach Parish Council's CCTV cameras in parks and cemeteries are not "safe or secure."

15:46 02 August 2020

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is currently investigating claims that Holbreach Parish Council's CCTV cameras in parks and cemeteries weren't "safe and secure." The investigation was launched after a member of a public lodged a complaint about a camera overseeing a children's play area. 

 

A previous internal investigation has revealed that the council was told in March this year that the CCTV cameras "were not currently suitable for the application they are being used for" and that they are "not reliable or safe solution to CCTV application." 

 

Coun Sophie Hutchinson, who carried out the investigation, confirms that the town's remaining CCTV cameras were taken down with others having been stolen. 

 

She stated: "I can't find any evidence that any of the councillors knew themselves about the advice from the contractor and it was not brought up in any council meetings or correspondences. 

 

" I realised immediately it's a serious situation and contacted all councillors." 

 

The council's CCTV champion Paula Silva said she and parish clerk David Boyce had carried out their own investigations and sent her own personal report, which concluded that "the amount of people it would have impacted on would have been very low." 

 

Meanwhile, an ICO spokesman said: "Holbeach Parish Council has reported an incident to us and we will assess the information provided."