CCTV at County Hall
Why does the Council have CCTV?
We own and operate a closed circuit television (CCTV) system at the County Hall campus in Lewes.
The purpose of this system is to:
- prevent, investigate and detect crime
- apprehend and prosecute offenders
- reduce insurance costs
- reduce repair costs resulting from criminal damage
- monitor security of premises and vehicles
- provide greater personal protection for staff and members of the public.
Signs at entrances to the County Hall campus indicate that you are entering an area covered by surveillance equipment.
Who has access to the pictures?
The day-to-day management of the system and control of the recordings is the responsibility of the Corporate Accommodation and Facilities Management section. This is part of the Property department, which sits in the Corporate Resources Directorate.
The managing contractor who is employed by us to monitor the site also has limited access to data from the CCTV system.
How long are recordings kept?
Images cannot be held in the system for longer than 14 days unless there is a legitimate reason for keeping them. In such cases, the reasons must be recorded by senior officers in the Property department.
Reasons for keeping specific images for longer than 14 days may include the following:
- they are required as evidence of criminal activity that may later be used in a prosecution
- they are required for the apprehension and prosecution of offenders
- they are the subject of a request to view from a person who has been recorded
- an authorising officer has decided that access to the images should be made more widely available. An example of this is when access is given to the media.
Can the cameras look at neighbouring properties?
Wherever possible, cameras are sited so that neighbouring properties cannot be overlooked and images recorded. Similarly, the movement of motorised cameras is restricted to prevent neighbouring properties being overlooked.
If a camera does overlook a neighbouring property, the owner or occupier of the property is consulted in advance.
Can I see how my car was damaged?
If a collision in the County Hall car parks is unreported, this may constitute criminal damage, according to legal advice we have received.
This means that disclosure of recorded images is permitted under the Data Protection Act, but only if:
- it is used solely to investigate a criminal act, or
- it is part of the process of prosecuting an alleged offender.
Disclosure can only be made to the police or the legal representatives involved in the prosecution.
Can I view recordings of myself?
If you want to view recordings of yourself you must fill out a Subject Access Request Form and return it with a search fee and two forms of identification. You should indicate if viewing will be sufficient or if a copy is required.
You will get a response within 40 days of us receiving the form, the fee and valid identification.
You may also be asked to provide a photograph of yourself so that the correct images can be retrieved. If your request is granted, any other person appearing in the images will be edited out.
Further information
If you have any questions about data protection, you can email us at dataprotection@eastsussex.gov.uk or telephone us on 01273 482913.
For enquiries about the CCTV scheme, please call us on 01273 481530.
