The Board received a presentation from the
CCTV and Telecare Manager, which had
been requested following the completion of an Overview and Scrutiny
Topic Proposal, by Councillor S. R. Colella. The presentation covered the following areas:
- Details of the team, staffing levels
and the areas which the team were involved in (including CCTV,
Lifeline monitoring and installations, lone worker monitoring and
emergency planning).
- The Council’s CCTV Scheme
objectives and code of practice (which, although due for review,
had been put on hold due to the implementation of new
legislation).
- The benefits of a shared service and
the role of the host authority, together with the difficulties
which had been faced during this process.
- Partnership working, including
details of how the CCTV team supported those partners, in
particular the Police and the Community Safety Team.
- Routine CCTV functions and the
particular areas of interest during the day and evening, for
example shop lifters and suspicious behaviour during the day and at
night anti-social behaviour in parks and railway station and
drunken or lewd behaviour.
The CCTV and Telecare Manager provided Members with details of
the number of cameras throughout the district, together with the
number at specific locations (for example the railway station) and
statistics relating to incidents monitored and investigated,
including information in respect of intelligence received from
partners.
Following the presentation the Board discussed
the following areas and the CCTV and Telecare Manager responded to questions from
Members:
- The work undertaken on behalf of the
Police and whether the Police made any contribution towards the
cost of the service provided – it was confirmed that funding
was not provided by the Police.
- Specific incidents (in some cases
repeated incidents within the same area) which had not been picked
up by the CCTV team and the effect of the Shared Services on the
efficiency of the team.
- The priorities of the team –
it was confirmed that a Lifeline call would always take priority
due to the potential of it being a “life or death”
situation.
- Staffing levels at peak times
(including shift pattern planning and how this was determined) and
training received by the CCTV team – all members of the team
undertook initial training and were registered. An annual audit of the service was also carried
out by Telecare.
- The type of cameras and equipment
used – the CCTV and Telecare
Manager informed Members that the system was approximately
2½ years old and was fully
digitalised. However, when providing
evidence for the Police this was copied on to DVDs which were
provided by the Police.
- The effectiveness of CCTV as a
monitoring tool and any performance measures which were in
place.
- Feedback from the Police in order to
monitor the effectiveness of evidence provided – the CCTV and
Telecare Manager was reviewing how this
could be improved, but in the meantime agreed to contact the
Community Safety Team Analyst to enquire whether there was any
appropriate data available.
- The response time to calls received
– it was confirmed that 95.8% were answered within 1
minute. This was reviewed on a regular
basis and adjustments made where necessary.
- The cost and promotion of the
Lifeline service – it was confirmed that leaflets were
available in libraries and doctors surgeries, the scheme was also
promoted for example through the Older Peoples’ Forum and
targeted talks to various organisations.
- The potential use of CCTV in other
areas, for example on street parking - further consideration would
need to be given to this to ascertain whether it would be best use
of the cameras, but in theory it would be possible if Members
requested such a service.
- The use of images as Court evidence
– this did happen; however there was a strict protocol to
follow before releasing the images as evidence.
- Members were invited to visit the
CCTV Centre in order to see for themselves how the team operated;
suitable dates would be circulated by officers in due course.
RSOLVED:
(a)
that the Board be provided with copies of the CCTV Code of
Practice; and
(b)
that the CCTV and Telecare Manager
contacts the Community Safety Team Analyst in respect of any
available date to support the effectiveness of the use CCTV and
provides that information to the Board.