CCTV POLICY

 

1. POLICY STATEMENT

 

1.1  Alpha Wolf Urban Axe Throwing (we/us/or) believe that CCTV and other surveillance systems have a legitimate role to play in helping to maintain a safe and secure environment for all our staff and visitors.  However, we recognise that this may raise concerns about the effect on individuals and their privacy. This policy is intended to address such concerns. Images recorded by surveillance systems are personal data which must be processed in accordance with data protection laws. We are committed to complying with our legal obligations and ensuring that the legal rights of staff, relating to their personal data, are recognised and respected.

1.2  This policy is intended for our visitors to understand how and why we use CCTV.

1.3  In certain circumstances, misuse of information generated by CCTV or other surveillance systems could constitute a criminal offence.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

 

2.1  For the purposes of this policy, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

CCTV: means fixed and domed cameras designed to capture and record images of individuals and property.

Data: is information which is stored electronically, or in certain paper-based filing systems. In respect of CCTV, this generally means video images. It may also include static pictures such as printed screen shots.

Data subjects: means all living individuals about whom we hold personal information as a result of the operation of our CCTV (or other surveillance systems).

Personal data: means data relating to a living individual who can be identified from that data (or other data in our possession). This will include video images of identifiable individuals.

Data controllers: are the people who, or organisations which, determine the manner in which any personal data is processed. They are responsible for establishing practices and policies to ensure compliance with the law. We are the data controller of all personal data used in our business for our own commercial purposes.

Data users: are those of our employees whose work involves processing personal data. This will include those whose duties are to operate CCTV cameras and other surveillance systems to record, monitor, store, retrieve and delete images. Data users must protect the data they handle in accordance with this policy and our Data Protection Policy.

Data processors: are any person or organisation that is not a data user (or other employee of a data controller) that processes data on our behalf and in accordance with our instructions (for example, a supplier which handles data on our behalf).

Processing: is any activity which involves the use of data. It includes obtaining, recording or holding data, or carrying out any operation on the data including organising, amending, retrieving, using, disclosing or destroying it. Processing also includes transferring personal data to third parties.

Surveillance systems: means any devices or systems designed to monitor or record images of individuals or information relating to individuals. The term includes CCTV systems as well as any technology that may be introduced in the future such as automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), body worn cameras, unmanned aerial systems and any other systems that capture information of identifiable individuals or information relating to identifiable individuals.

 

3. ABOUT THIS POLICY

 

3.1  We currently use CCTV cameras to view and record individuals on and around our premises. This policy outlines why we use CCTV, how we will use CCTV and how we will process data recorded by CCTV cameras to ensure we are compliant with data protection law and best practice. This policy also explains how to make a subject access request in respect of personal data created by CCTV.

3.2  We recognise that information that we hold about individuals is subject to data protection legislation. The images of individuals recorded by CCTV cameras in the workplace are personal data and therefore subject to the legislation. We are committed to complying with all our legal obligations and seek to comply with best practice suggestions from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

3.3  This policy covers all employees, directors, officers, consultants, contractors, freelancers, volunteers, interns, casual workers, zero hours workers and agency workers and visiting members of the public.

3.4  This policy is non-contractual.  We may amend this policy at any time without consultation. The policy will be regularly reviewed to ensure that it meets legal requirements, relevant guidance published by the ICO and industry standards.

 

4. PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE

 

4.1  Richard Chapman has overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and the effective operation of this policy. Day-to-day management responsibility for deciding what information is recorded, how it will be used and to whom it may be disclosed may be delegated only by Richard Chapman, who will appoint a representative to have day-to-day operational responsibility for CCTV cameras and the storage of data.

 

5. REASONS FOR THE USE OF CCTV

 

5.1  We currently use CCTV in and around our premises as outlined below. We believe that such use is necessary for legitimate business purposes, including:

(a)  to prevent crime and protect buildings and assets from damage, disruption, vandalism and other crime;

(b)  for the personal safety of staff, visitors and other members of the public and to act as a deterrent against crime;

(c)  to support law enforcement bodies in the prevention, detection and prosecution of crime;

(d)  to assist in day-to-day management, including ensuring the health and safety of staff and others;

(e)  to assist in the effective resolution of disputes which may arise at our premises; and

(f)  to assist in the defence of any civil litigation, including employment tribunal proceedings.

This list is not exhaustive and other purposes may be or become relevant.

 

6. MONITORING

 

6.1  CCTV monitors are placed in various places inside and outside of our premises and continuously records 24 hours a day.

6.2  Camera locations are chosen to minimise viewing of spaces not relevant to the legitimate purpose of the monitoring.

6.3  Surveillance systems will not be used to record sound.

6.4  Images are monitored by authorised personnel 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

6.5  Staff using surveillance systems will be given appropriate training to ensure they understand and observe the legal requirements related to the processing of relevant data.

 

7. HOW WE WILL OPERATE ANY CCTV

 

7.1  Live feeds from CCTV cameras will only be monitored where this is reasonably necessary, for example to protect health and safety.

7.2  We will ensure that live feeds from cameras and recorded images are only viewed by approved members of staff whose role requires them to have access to such data. This may include HR staff involved with disciplinary or grievance matters. Recorded images will only be viewed in designated, secure offices.

7.3  No surveillance cameras will be placed in areas where there is an expectation of privacy (for example, in toilets) unless, in very exceptional circumstances, it is judged by us to be necessary to deal with very serious concerns.

 

8. USE OF DATA GATHERED BY CCTV

 

8.1  In order to ensure that the rights of individuals recorded by the CCTV system are protected, we will ensure that data gathered from CCTV cameras is stored in a way that maintains its integrity and security. This may include encrypting the data, where it is possible to do so.

8.2  Given the large amount of data generated by surveillance systems, we may store video footage using a cloud computing system. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that any cloud service provider maintains the security of our information, in accordance with industry standards.

8.3  We may engage data processors to process data on our behalf. We will ensure reasonable contractual safeguards are in place to protect the security and integrity of the data.

 

9. RETENTION AND ERASURE OF DATA GATHERED BY CCTV

 

9.1  Data recorded by the CCTV system will be stored digitally using a cloud computing system. Data from CCTV cameras will not be retained indefinitely but will be permanently deleted once there is no reason to retain the recorded information. Exactly how long images will be retained for will vary according to the purpose for which they are being recorded. For example, where images are being recorded for crime prevention purposes, data will be kept long enough only for incidents to come to light. In all other cases, recorded images will be kept for no longer than 90 days. We will maintain a comprehensive log of when data is deleted.

9.2  At the end of their useful life, all images stored in whatever format will be erased permanently and securely. Any physical matter such as tapes or discs will be disposed of as confidential waste. Any still photographs and hard copy prints will be disposed of as confidential waste.

 

10. ONGOING REVIEW OF CCTV USE

 

10.1  We will ensure that the ongoing use of existing CCTV cameras at our premises is reviewed periodically to ensure that their use remains necessary and appropriate, and that any surveillance system is continuing to address the needs that justified its introduction.

 

11. REQUESTS FOR DISCLOSURE

 

11.1  No images from our CCTV cameras will be disclosed to any other third party, without express permission being given by Richard Chapman. Data will not normally be released unless satisfactory evidence that it is required for legal proceedings or under a court order has been produced.

11.2  In other appropriate circumstances, we may allow law enforcement agencies to view or remove CCTV footage where this is required in the detection or prosecution of crime.

11.3  We will maintain a record of all disclosures of CCTV footage.

11.4  No images from CCTV will ever be posted online or disclosed to the media.

 

12. SUBJECT ACCESS REQUESTS

 

12.1  Data subjects may make a request for disclosure of their personal information and this may include CCTV images (data subject access request). A data subject access request is subject to the statutory conditions from time to time in place and should be made in writing, in accordance with our subject access policy which can be found in the staff handbook.

12.2  In order for us to locate relevant footage, any requests for copies of recorded CCTV images must include the date and time of the recording, the location where the footage was captured and, if necessary, information identifying the individual.

12.3  We reserve the right to obscure images of third parties when disclosing CCTV data as part of a subject access request, where we consider it necessary to do so.

 

13. COMPLAINTS

 

13.1  If any visitor or member of staff has questions about this policy or any concerns about our use of CCTV, then they should write to Richard Chapman at rich@awuat.uk or 21 High Street, Grantham NG31 6PH.