Government consults on revisions to Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

Issued under Section 30 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice provides guidance on the appropriate use of surveillance camera systems by local authorities and the police service.

The proposed draft runs to 21 pages and updates references to subsequent legislation, in particular data protection-centric legislation, as well as the judgement issued in the case involving Bridges versus South Wales Police.

There is also some rationalising of the text to make it easier for the user to follow.

The amended Code of Practice doesn’t place any additional burden on those authorities who should have regard to it, while the list of relevant authorities defined in the Protection of Freedoms Act isn’t being extended at present.

Subject to the comments received via the consultation exericse, the Government’s intention is to lay the draft revised Code of Practice before Parliament at some point in late autumn.

Professor Fraser Sampson, the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, is responsible for encouraging compliance with the Code of Practice and reviewing how it’s working. The Commissioner and his office would like to encourage contributions to this consultation process from a wide range of stakeholders.

*The draft updated Code of Practice is available to view online

**The grid of proposed amendments can be reviewed online here