CCTV Coverage

Dear Ms Herbs,

I refer to your request for information regarding CCTV, which was received
on 23^rd November, 2008 and is being dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We are therefore required to provide you with a
response within 20 working days, which will be on or before 19th December,
2008.

If we require any clarification or further details, we will contact you as
soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to
contact me, remembering to quote the reference number above in any
communications.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman

Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data

Adran y Prif Weithredwr

Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer

Chief Executive's Department

Carmarthenshire County Council

Tel: (01267) 246108

Mewnol/Internal: 6108

Ffacs/Fax: (01267) 246134

Mae*r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw atodiadau yn gyfrinachol ac wedi*u bwriadu at
ddefnydd yr unigolyn y*u cyfeiriwyd ato/ati yn unig. Os derbyniwch y neges
hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i*r sawl a*i hanfonodd ar unwaith,
dil*wch y neges o*ch cyfrifiadur a dinistriwch unrhyw gop*au papur ohoni.
Ni ddylech ddangos yr e-bost i unrhyw un arall, na gweithredu ar sail y
cynnwys. Eiddo*r awdur yw unrhyw farn neu safbwynt a fynegir, ac nid ydynt
o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli safbwynt y Cyngor. Dylech wirio am firysau eich
hunan cyn agor unrhyw atodiad. Nid ydym yn derbyn unrhyw atebolrwydd am
golled neu niwed a all fod wedi*i achosi gan firysau meddalwedd neu trwy
ryng-gipio*r neges hon neu ymyrryd * hi.

This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for
the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. If received in error
please notify the sender immediately, delete the message from your
computer and destroy any hard copies. The e-mail should not be disclosed
to any other person, nor the contents acted upon. Any views or opinions
expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of the Council. You should carry out your own virus check before opening
any attachment. We accept no liability for any loss or damage which may be
caused by software viruses or interception/interruption of this mail.

Dear Ms Herbs,

I refer to your request for information regarding CCTV cameras, which was
received on 23^rd November, 2008 and has been dealt with under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000.

The specific information you requested was as follows:

1. The number of CCTV cameras installed in public areas which are
controlled, monitored or operated by the Council and the general
capability of those cameras (i.e. resolution, frames per second, remote
movement/focus control, infra-red capabilities, viable range).

2. How many staff are involved in the monitoring of the CCTV feeds.

3. If any of the Council's monitoring provisions include audio
capabilities.

4. The location/address of the Council's main monitoring station.

5. If there is a database or list of locations of installed cameras.

6. If 5 exists does it contain information on the capabilities of those
cameras (i.e. resolution, frames per second and infra-red capabilities) or
the direction/target of those cameras.

7. If 5 is true, for a copy of said database to be supplied.

8. What is the data retention time of the images recorded.

9. Is there any ancillary equipment being used that can automatically
track a single individual between cameras, or automatically detect an
individual within a number of camera feeds based on a previous facial
image (e.g. neural net software).

10. If the CCTV scheme is subcontracted, the names of the companies
subcontracted to and the approximate annual costs paid.

In response, I can provide the following information:

1. The number of cameras installed in public areas is 87.

2. There are 8 monitoring staff.

3. None of the systems have audio recording capabilities.

4. There are three monitoring stations at the Police Stations in
Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli.

8. Images are retained for a period of 30 days.

9. No anciliary equipment is used for the purpose described.

10. The CCTV scheme is not subcontracted.

However, I have decided that information held in relation to parts 1
(capabilities), 5, 6 and 7 of your request should be withheld, for reasons
I will explain below.

Under Section 31(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, a public authority
may refuse to release information if to do so would, or would be likely to
prejudice the prevention and detection of crime.

I am of the view that this exemption applies in this case, as the release
of this particular information would be likely to diminish the
effectiveness of the CCTV systems in preventing crime. The release of
information under the Freedom of Information Act places it in the public
domain, and its publication would assist those inclined to criminal
activities or anti-social behaviour in planning and carrying out such
acts.

For example, providing the locations of cameras would identify areas where
there is no CCTV coverage and could lead to an increase in crime and
disorder in those areas. This is a view supported by the Police.

Therefore, in accordance with Section 17 of the Act, please consider
this e-mail to be a formal notice that I am refusing to release this
information.

 

If you disagree with this decision or the way in which your request has
been dealt with, you have the right to complain in the first instance to:

 

The Head of Administration & Law

Carmarthenshire County Council

County Hall

Carmarthen

SA31 1JP

 

E-mail: [1][email address]

  

If you remain unhappy with any subsequent decision, you have the right to
appeal to the Information Commissioner to rule on your complaint.  You
may write to him at:

     

Information Commissioner

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Tel: (01267) 246108
Mewnol/Internal: 6108
Ffacs/Fax: (01267) 246134

Mae*r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw atodiadau yn gyfrinachol ac wedi*u bwriadu at
ddefnydd yr unigolyn y*u cyfeiriwyd ato/ati yn unig. Os derbyniwch y neges
hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i*r sawl a*i hanfonodd ar unwaith,
dilëwch y neges o*ch cyfrifiadur a dinistriwch unrhyw gopïau papur
ohoni. Ni ddylech ddangos yr e-bost i unrhyw un arall, na gweithredu ar
sail y cynnwys. Eiddo*r awdur yw unrhyw farn neu safbwynt a fynegir, ac
nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli safbwynt y Cyngor. Dylech wirio am
firysau eich hunan cyn agor unrhyw atodiad. Nid ydym yn derbyn unrhyw
atebolrwydd am golled neu niwed a all fod wedi*i achosi gan firysau
meddalwedd neu trwy ryng-gipio*r neges hon neu ymyrryd â hi.

This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for
the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. If received in error
please notify the sender immediately, delete the message from your
computer and destroy any hard copies. The e-mail should not be disclosed
to any other person, nor the contents acted upon. Any views or opinions
expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of the Council. You should carry out your own virus check before opening
any attachment. We accept no liability for any loss or damage which may be
caused by software viruses or interception/interruption of this mail.

References

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1. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Herbs,

I write to acknowledge receipt of your appeal.

We aim to provide you with a decision by 24.01.09.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Grafton
Senior Solicitor

Mae*r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw atodiadau yn gyfrinachol ac wedi*u bwriadu at
ddefnydd yr unigolyn y*u cyfeiriwyd ato/ati yn unig. Mae*n bosib bod yr
e-bost hefyd yn cynnwys gwybodaeth gyfreithiol freintiedig. Os derbyniwch
y neges hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i*r sawl a*i hanfonodd ar
unwaith, dil*wch y neges o*ch cyfrifiadur a dinistriwch unrhyw gop*au
papur ohoni. Ni ddylech ddangos yr e-bost i unrhyw un arall, na gweithredu
ar sail y cynnwys. Eiddo*r awdur yw unrhyw farn neu safbwynt a fynegir, ac
nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli safbwynt y Cyngor. Dylech wirio am
firysau eich hunan cyn agor unrhyw atodiad. Nid ydym yn derbyn unrhyw
atebolrwydd am golled neu niwed a all fod wedi*i achosi gan firysau
meddalwedd neu trwy ryng-gipio*r neges hon neu ymyrryd * hi. Ni fydd y
Cyngor yn derbyn dogfennau a gyflwynir yn y cyfeiriad e-bost hwn at
ddibenion cyfreithiol, oni chytunir ar hynny yn ysgrifenedig ymlaen llaw
gyda*r sawl sy*n eu hanfon.

This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for
the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. This e-mail may also
contain legally privileged information. If received in error please notify
the sender immediately, delete the message from your computer and destroy
any hard copies. The e-mail should not be disclosed to any other person,
nor the contents acted upon. Any views or opinions expressed are those of
the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Council. You
should carry out your own virus check before opening any attachment. We
accept no liability for any loss or damage which may be caused by software
viruses or interception/interruption of this mail. The Council will not
accept service of documents at this e-mail address for legal purposes,
unless agreed in advance in writing with the sender.

Dear Ms Herbs,

I refer to my e-mail dated 06.01.09 and now enclose a copy of the
determination:-

<<decision notice.doc>>
Yours sincerely,

Phil Grafton

Mae*r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw atodiadau yn gyfrinachol ac wedi*u bwriadu at
ddefnydd yr unigolyn y*u cyfeiriwyd ato/ati yn unig. Mae*n bosib bod yr
e-bost hefyd yn cynnwys gwybodaeth gyfreithiol freintiedig. Os derbyniwch
y neges hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i*r sawl a*i hanfonodd ar
unwaith, dil*wch y neges o*ch cyfrifiadur a dinistriwch unrhyw gop*au
papur ohoni. Ni ddylech ddangos yr e-bost i unrhyw un arall, na gweithredu
ar sail y cynnwys. Eiddo*r awdur yw unrhyw farn neu safbwynt a fynegir, ac
nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli safbwynt y Cyngor. Dylech wirio am
firysau eich hunan cyn agor unrhyw atodiad. Nid ydym yn derbyn unrhyw
atebolrwydd am golled neu niwed a all fod wedi*i achosi gan firysau
meddalwedd neu trwy ryng-gipio*r neges hon neu ymyrryd * hi. Ni fydd y
Cyngor yn derbyn dogfennau a gyflwynir yn y cyfeiriad e-bost hwn at
ddibenion cyfreithiol, oni chytunir ar hynny yn ysgrifenedig ymlaen llaw
gyda*r sawl sy*n eu hanfon.

This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for
the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. This e-mail may also
contain legally privileged information. If received in error please notify
the sender immediately, delete the message from your computer and destroy
any hard copies. The e-mail should not be disclosed to any other person,
nor the contents acted upon. Any views or opinions expressed are those of
the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Council. You
should carry out your own virus check before opening any attachment. We
accept no liability for any loss or damage which may be caused by software
viruses or interception/interruption of this mail. The Council will not
accept service of documents at this e-mail address for legal purposes,
unless agreed in advance in writing with the sender.