Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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Working with the Surveillance Camera Commissioner

The Information Commissioner has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Andrew Rennison, on 23 October. The agreement commits both organisations to working with each other to regulate the use of CCTV and other forms of surveillance cameras in England and Wales. The pledge will help to avoid duplication of effort by establishing clear working relationships between both Commissioners.

The use of CCTV continues to be the source of a great deal of public interest. In the last 18 months the ICO has issued a number of important rulings relating to the use of surveillance systems. These have included the decision last year ordering Southampton Council to stop the mandatory video recording of all taxi passengers' conversations in the city, and a more recent decision earlier this summer ordering Hertfordshire Constabulary to review its use of ANPR cameras surrounding the town of Royston.

The ICO is currently in the processes of updating its existing CCTV Code of Practice so that it reflects the additional issues included in the Surveillance Camera Commissioner's Code - published on 12 August.

Head of Strategic Liaison, Jonathan Bamford spoke at the Surveillance Camera Commissioner Conference on 23 October. His presentation provides an overview of our working relationship with the Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

ICO has also published what they describe as a 'road map' that explains the roles and responsibilities of the Information Commissioner, the Interception of Communications Commissioner, the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, the Biometric Commissioners, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and the Intelligence Services Commissioner. The document has been produced in collaboration with these other bodies which oversee surveillance legislation in the UK and is designed to shed light on their roles and functions.

www.ico.org.uk

13th November 2013