Consulting On

North Shore City Council draft CCTV policy

North Shore City Council is seeking feedback to its draft CCTV (Closed Circuit Television System) policy from residents, businesses and organisations.

The policy applies to CCTV systems or cameras owned or operated by or on behalf of the council, or located on council land or in council facilities.

Interested persons or organisations are invited to lodge written comments on the draft plan. The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday 23 May 2008.

Comments should be sent to:
Antony Vallyon, Strategic Policy Advisor, Infrastructure Services, North Shore City Council, Private Bag 93-500, Takapuna, North Shore City.

Rationale

Requirements

Privacy Principles

Glossary

Council’s aim through the installation of CCTV (Closed Circuit Television System) is:

to improve safety for staff, our contractors and the public;
to deter potential vandalism and damage;
to assist in transport management and council by-law enforcement;
to assist in enhancing the operational effectiveness and safety of Council facilities and services;
to use, where appropriate, for law enforcement purposes.

This policy applies to the ongoing use of the systems (cameras, recording and viewing equipment) and data, whether on site or elsewhere, to ensure compliance with the Privacy Act 1993 (the Act) and other legislation. It is important that the system design, use and management complies with relevant sections of the Privacy Act and that recorded data is managed diligently. Compliance with the Act is necessary as CCTV data may include information covered by that Act.

Purposes of policy

To ensure the Council, its employees and contractors comply with good practise, transparency and accountability including the relevant requirements of the Privacy Act.
To protect the privacy rights of the Council, its employees, contractors and the public.
To manage access to CCTV and its recorded data.
To ensure any required recorded data is not compromised and can if necessary be used in court as evidence.

Application of policy

This policy applies to CCTV systems or cameras; which are owned or operated by or on behalf of the Council, or are located on council land or in council facilities. The application of the policy is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act, The Local Government Official Information Act, and other relevant legislation.

Guidelines

The protection of an individual’s privacy shall be maintained by:
Adhering to Principle 1 of the Act that specifies information can only be collected for a necessary and lawful purpose (i.e. related to the Council’s business).
Adhering to Principle 3 which says that the Council should take reasonable steps to make individuals aware that information is being collected and the reason for that.
Ensuring that information is collected in a fair manner, in accordance with Principle 4.
Requiring the appropriate storage and security of recorded information, in accordance with Principle 5.
Upholding Principle 10, ensuring information is only used for the purpose(s) it was collected.
Complying with Principles 6, 9 and 11 relating to access to, and retention and disclosure of, information.
Information collected from CCTV will only be used:
To identify and investigate criminal activity or suspicious behaviour with regard to the purposes of this policy.
For transport management, or council bylaw enforcement.
To assist in the operational effectiveness and safety of Council facilities and services.
CCTV data will be viewed as close as possible in time to any incident occurring.
Only approved persons (as authorised by the Chief Executive and Council Privacy Officer, or officers delegated that responsibility by them) or sworn members of the Police with appropriate authorisation will have access to the CCTV data.
Council, its staff, contractors and the public are to be informed of the CCTV systems’ existence through notices to staff, Public Notices in local media and signage at CCTV locations.