CCTV

Islington Council's public protection surveillance camera system (CCTV) is one of the tools used to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the borough. We are governed by a variety of codes of practice and data protection laws and strict guidelines.

Our CCTV operators are fully qualified in public space CCTV and are police checked and security industry registered (SIA). Our control room is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and is in constant two-way radio contact with the police.  It can direct emergency services and our own ASB officers to incidents as well as record evidence for the police and council services to use in their investigations.

Our control room monitors 155 public space cameras with 21 4GHD cameras and 10 ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras which are all used on the Borough to deal with emerging problems. Our cameras move 360 degrees and are positioned so that they do not intrude into private areas. All of these Islington Council cameras have a notice below them with a contact number. We also can access many cameras from housing estates across the Borough.

See locations of our CCTV cameras

Data storage

The council stores images recorded from CCTV cameras for 31 days, after which time it is automatically deleted. If a request for evidential CCTV is made for litigation purposes, the relevant footage is saved for up to 3 months, after which time it will be deleted. To apply for access to CCTV personal information, please see  CCTV data requests for guidance and application form. 

Privacy

Our CCTV is governed by the following legislation to protect your rights and privacy:

• Information Commissioners Officer (ICO) Guide to the general data protection regulation (GDPR) act
• Information Commissioners Office (ICO) CCTV codes of practice
• Guides to the twelve principles (To be read in conjunction with Surveillance Code of Practice)
• Surveillance Camera Code of Practice 2013
• Freedom of Information Act 2000 

Complaints

Islington council surveillance camera team take any concerns or complaints very seriously and have procedures for complaints. More often or not we have more demands for Surveillance cameras to be put in place than we do actual complaints about existing cameras.

• In certification year 2016/17 we did not receive any complaints regarding Islington CCTV
• In certification year 2017/18 we received three complaints regarding CCTV.
  The three complaints were found not to be Islington council CCTV and the complaining parties were referred to the appropriate CCTV owners.
• In certification year 2018/2019 two complaints were received. These were in relation to two separate mobile 4gHD cameras installed on lampposts to deter fly tipping
  The first camera was put up after residents and councillors complained of fly tipping. it had the desired effect of stopping it but residents felt the camera was intrusive, given that the fly tipping had stopped the camera was taken down.
  The second camera was put up after residents complained of fly tipping on their estate The complaint was from a single resident who thought the camera may look into her property . Images were supplied to show that it was the Fly Tipping was being monitored only. The complaint was resolved and the had the desired effect of stopping drastically reducing the fly tipping until other measures were put in place.

For independent advice and guidance on surveillance cameras you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office helpline on 08456 30 60 60, or see The Information Commissioner's Office website.