CCTV policy and codes of practice from Cheltenham Borough Council
Source: data.gov.uk (2016-07-06)

Cheltenham Borough Council CCTV policy and codes of practice for its buildings.

Code of Practice for CCTV surveillance 
system 
Located at 
The Cemetery Offices and Chapels, Bouncers 
Lane 
Cheltenham 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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1.1. 
Management of the scheme 
 
1.2. 
A risk assessment has been carried out to assess the need and requirements of CCTV 
systems at the Cemetery Office and Chapels. This risk assessment is reviewed on an 
annual basis by the Building Manager. 
 
1.3. 
The cameras covering the entrance/exits, reception/cash handling area of the Cemetery 
Office and those covering the South and North Chapels, have been sited to capture 
images which are relevant to the identified purposes of the installation. 
 
1.4. 
The scheme will be operated using overt cameras which are sited so as not to intrude 
unreasonably on members of the public or staff. The CCTV scheme seeks to comply 
with both the Data Protection Act 1988 and the Commissioners code of practice.  
 
1.5. 
The owners, users and any visitors to the control, monitoring and recording facilities will 
be required to sign a formal confidentiality declaration. They will treat any viewed and/or 
written material as being strictly confidential and will undertake not to divulge it to any 
other person. 
 
1.6. 
Those who have authorised access (Bereavement Services Manager, Senior Building 
Services Surveyor, and others as appropriate) are aware of the purpose(s) for which the 
scheme has been established and that the CCTV equipment is only used to achieve the 
identified purposes which are: 
 
(a) To contribute to the provision of a safe and secure environment for the benefit of  
      those employed, visiting or using the Cemetery Offices and Chapels 
(b) To protect the Council’s building and assets  
(d) To assist in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting offenders  
(e) To assist in the coordination of funeral services. 
 
 
1.7. 
Scheme and Signage 
 
1.8. 
This scheme aims to provide surveillance of the public areas within the Cemetery Office 
and Chapels, in order to fulfil the purposes of the scheme as listed above. The area 
protected by CCTV will be indicated by the presence of signs. The signs will be placed 
so that the public are aware that they are entering a zone which is covered by 
surveillance equipment. The signs will state that the Cheltenham Borough Council as 
being the organisation responsible for the scheme, the purposes of the scheme (Crime 
prevention, public safety and the coordination of funeral services) and a contact 
telephone number xx-xxxx-xxxx) 
 
1.9. 
Data will not be held for longer than necessary and disposal of information will be 
regulated by the Bereavement Services Manager. The disposal of records happens as 
part of a managed process and is adequately documented within the service document 
retention schedule 
 
1.10. 
Point of contact 
 
1.11. 
All enquiries for further information about the system should be addressed to: 
 
Bereavement Services Manager 
Cheltenham Borough Council 
Bouncers Lane 
Cheltenham 
 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 

 
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1.12. 
Release of information (subject access) 
 
1.13. 
Individuals may request to view information concerning them held on record in 
accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Any request from an individual for the 
disclosure of personal data which he/she believes is recorded by virtue of the system 
will be directed in the first instance to the Customer Relations Manager. They will be 
required to request any information with reasons in writing and must be able to 
satisfactorily prove their identity and provide sufficient information to enable the data to 
be located. 
  
1.14. 
Information will be released if the reasons are deemed acceptable, the request and 
release of information complies with current legislation and on condition that the 
information is not used for any other purpose than that specified.  
 
1.15. 
The information may not be released if disclosure to the data subject would prejudice 
the criminal enquiries or criminal proceedings. 
 
 
1.16. 
Information on how to obtain an application form can be found on Cheltenham Borough 
Council web site www.cheltenham.gov.uk or by writing to Customer Relations. 
 
 
1.17. 
Access to data by third parties and statutory prosecuting bodies 
 
1.18. 
Access to images by third parties will only be allowed in limited and prescribed 
circumstances. Disclosure will be limited to the following:- 
 
• Law enforcement agencies where the images recorded would assist in a specific 
criminal enquiry 
• Prosecution agencies 
• Legal representatives. 
 
1.19. 
The media, where it is assessed by the Police that the public’s assistance is needed in 
order to assist in the identification of victim, witness or perpetrator in relation to a 
criminal incident. As part of that assessment the wishes of the victim of an incident 
should be taken into account. 
 
1.20. 
The policy is to assist statutory prosecuting bodies such as the Police, and statutory 
authorities with powers to prosecute and facilitate the legitimate use of the information 
derived from the scheme.  
 
1.21. 
Statutory bodies may have access to information permitted for disclosure on application 
to the owner of the scheme (Building Manager) or the manager (Bereavement Services 
Manager), these applications must be in writing and provide the reasons and statement 
of purpose, according with the objectives of the scheme and conditions outlined above. 
 
1.22. 
The information will be treated as evidential exhibits. 
 
 
1.23. 
System Registration  
 
1.24. 
All Council systems are registered with the Information Commissioner‘s Office (ICO)  
 
 

 
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1.25. 
Accountability 
 
1.26. 
Cheltenham Borough Council  supports the principle that the community at large should 
be satisfied that the Public CCTV systems are being used, managed and controlled in a 
responsible and accountable manner and that in order to meet this objective there will 
be independent assessment and scrutiny. 
 
1.27. 
A member of the public wishing to make a complaint about the system may do so 
through the Cheltenham Borough Council complaints procedure and by contacting The 
Crem Manager. 
 
1.28. 
A copy of the Code of Practice will be made available to anyone on request by 
contacting the CCTV system owner (Building Manager) or System Manager 
(Bereavement Services Manager)  
 
1.29. 
CCTV Control Management And Operation 
 
1.30. 
Access to the monitoring and recording area is restricted. 
 
1.31. 
Only those persons with a legitimate purpose will be permitted access to the Control, 
Recording and Monitoring system. 
 
 
1.32. 
The System Manager (Bereavement Services Manager) or in his/her absence the Cem 
& Crem Team Leader is authorised to determine who has access to the monitoring 
area. This will normally be: 
 
• Authorised Personnel (including Council Representatives) 
• Police officers requiring to view a particular incident, or intelligence or evidential 
purposes. These visits will take place by prior appointment. 
• Engineers and cleaning staff (These people will receive supervision throughout 
their visit) 
 
1.33. 
Inspectors/Auditors may visit the monitoring and recording facility without prior 
appointment. 
 
1.34. 
Organised visits by authorised persons are to be conducted in controlled 
circumstances. All visitors to the monitoring and recording area, including Police 
Officers, will be required to sign a visitors log and a declaration of confidentiality. 
 
1.35. 
Observation and recording of incidents 
 
1.36. 
Recording will be throughout a 24 hour period. The system will be monitored on the 
basis of operational necessity. Images will be held for approximately 16 days and they 
will then be over recorded. 
 
1.37. 
Privacy And Disclosure Issues 
 
1.38. 
Cameras will not be used to infringe individual’s rights of privacy. 
 
1.39. 
All employees will be aware of the restrictions set out in this Code of  Practice in relation 
to access to, and disclosure of, recorded images 
 
1.40. 
Images not required for the purposes of the scheme will not be retained longer than 
necessary 
 
1.41. 
The Duty Manager will only disclose to third parties who intend processing the data for 
purposes which are deemed compatible with the objectives of the CCTV system 

 
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1.42. 
Monitors displaying images from areas in which individuals would have an expectation 
of privacy will not be viewed by anyone other than authorised persons. 
 
1.43. 
Recorded material will only be used for the purposes defined in the objectives of this 
policy 
 
1.44. 
Access to recorded material will be in accordance with policy and procedures 
 
1.45. 
Information will not be disclosed for commercial purposes and entertainment purposes 
 
1.46. 
All access to the medium on which the images are recorded will be documented  
 
1.47. 
Access to recorded images will be restricted to those staff who need to have access in 
order to achieve the purpose(s) of using the equipment 
 
 
1.48. 
Viewing of the recorded images should take place in a restricted area.  
 
 
1.49. 
Access to recorded images 
 
1.50. 
Access to recorded images will be restricted to the Bereavement Services Manager or 
other designated member of staff who will decide whether to allow requests for access 
by third parties in accordance with the disclosure policy. Those requests must be in 
writing.  
 
1.51. 
Monitoring employees   
 
1.52. 
As the Cemetery Chapels CCTV is located in a workplace it inevitably captures pictures 
of employees, even if they are not the main subject of surveillance. The purpose of the 
CCTV is not to monitor the amount of work done nor compliance with company 
procedures. However, if there is a breach in Council procedures then CCTV footage can 
be used for reference purposes. 
 
1.53. 
The overt monitoring of any employee using CCTV can only be done with the consent 
of the Director and after consultation with HR GOSS 
 
1.54. 
The covert monitoring of employees must not take place unless it has been specifically 
authorised in advance using the codes of practice, guidance and procedures under The 
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 . There is no covert monitoring that takes 
place on this site. 
 
 
 
1.55. 
Recorded Material Management 
 
1.56. 
Images, that are not required for the purpose(s) for which the equipment is being used 
will not be retained for longer than is necessary. The detail as to how long data should 
be held will be defined within the service retention schedule. While images are retained 
access to and security of the images will be controlled in accordance with the 
requirements of the Data Protection Act.  
 
1.57. 
Recorded material should be of high quality. In order for recorded material to be 
admissible in evidence total integrity and continuity must be maintained at all times. 
 
1.58. 
Security measures will be taken to prevent unauthorised access to, alteration, 
disclosure, accidental loss or destruction of recorded material. 

 
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1.59. 
Recorded material will not be released to organisations outside the ownership of the 
system other than for training purposes or under the guidelines referred to previously. 
 
1.60. 
Images retained for evidential purposes will be retained in a secure place where access 
is controlled – safe in the strong room. 
 
1.61. 
The system records features such as the location of the camera and/or date and time 
reference. 
 
1.62. 
In order to ensure that clear images are recorded at all times the equipment for making 
recordings will be maintained in good working order with regular servicing in accordance 
with the manufacturer’s instructions. 
 
1.63. 
Recorded Material Register 
 
1.64. 
There will be a register documenting the access to recorded media.  
 
1.65. 
Documentation 
 
1.66. 
Log books must be sequential in order that pages or entries cannot be removed and full 
and accurate records kept. 
   
 
1.67. 
Administrative documents 
 
The following shall be maintained: 
 
• Media tracking register 
• occurrence/incident book 
• visitors register 
• maintenance of equipment, whether routine or breakdown 
• list of installed equipment

 
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Action Plan 
 
Task 
Action 
Completed 
Risk assessment to be 
documented 
Rob H 
 
Disposal of Records 
Copies of CDs given to 
Police etc? 
Design a disposal of 
records log sheet for CCTV 
Rob H 
 
Query system registration – 
look as though the existing 
registration might need 
amending 
Contact Karen Watson 
 
Visitors log to control room 
and CCTV 
Create visitor log book and 
declaration of confidentiality 
Rob H 
 
Training notes on using the 
system to be created 
Rob H  
 
Training to be given to staff 
and poss TM 
Rob H 
 
Manual to be produced  
With fault logs, maintenance 
agreements, list of installed 
equipment 
Rob H 
 
Brief staff 
Rob h 
 
Check interpretation of 
employees monitoring 
Rob with Karen and Bryan 
 
Publish 
Rob H