CCTV hamilton square birkenhead deplyment decisions
Dear Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council,
For the pole mounted cctv camera outside 34 hamilton square in birkenhead near its corner with price street please –
provide a copy of all information relating to the original decision to deploy a camera here, including any public notices, consultations and feedbacks, and also any reports, minutes, decisions, notes and communications
also provide a copy of all subsequent and to date regular reviews, updates and reports relating to the regular recurring decision to continue to deploy a camera here
Yours faithfully,
John Jones
Dear Mr Jones
In response to your enquiry we can confirm that the column was originally
installed by WBC between 1990 and 2003, as part of the Hamilton Quarter
Project. However we do not hold any recorded information relating to the
original decision to install it as any information held will have been
destroyed in accordance with the Council’s retention policy. No planning
permission was required as it was Permitted Development under legislation
GPDO (2015), schedule 2, Part 12.
The camera is located in a town centre setting with a significant night
time economy. There are a number of licensed premises within view of the
camera and removal would have an adverse effect on our ability to monitor
this area for crime and anti-social behaviour effectively. We hold no
documentation around the decision to continue the deployment as the camera
has not been identified as a site with limited usage requiring regular
review. There are no current plans to remove this site.
Yours sincerely
Lynette Paterson
Principal Information Management Officer
Finance – Digital and Improvement
Wirral Council
PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ
Email: [1][Wirral Borough Council request email]
Visit our website: [2]www.wirral.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
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References
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1. mailto:[Wirral Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.wirral.gov.uk/
Dear InfoMgr, FinDMT,
Please provide all information relating to the Wirral Council criteria you appear to refer to such that deployment decisions are apparently not reviewed where a camera such as this has not been identified as at a site with limited usage requiring review, to include any related reports, policies or decisions regarding the assessment of need to review cctv deployments.
Also all information relating to Wirral Council’s compliance or otherwise with, and the extent to which Wirral council has had regard to, the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act, to include any related reports, policies or decisions, and in particular regarding one of the guiding principles of that being that the user of a surveillance camera system must take into account its effect on individuals and their privacy, with regular reviews to ensure its use remains justified.
Yours sincerely,
John Jones
Dear InfoMgr, FinDMT,
In relation to another request
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
including the council's cctv code which refers to annual reviews and periodic audits, as well as what I asked in my hamilton square camera deployment follow up message if 26/02/2024 please provide the most recent review and the most recent audit for this camera.
Yours sincerely,
John Jones
Dear Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'CCTV hamilton square birkenhead deplyment decisions'.
REASONS -
It is now 21 working days since my request of 02/02/2024 (and so that it is not lost, 19 working days since my connected request of 06/02/2024) but there has been no response.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
John Jones
Dear Mr Jones
Please see the attached document extract which relates specifically to the
CCTV camera on Argyle Street at its junction with Price Street. This is
part of a monthly full system audit & review conducted by the Emergency
Control Centre Team Leader. This lists all camera access requests made by
Emergency Control Centre operators and allows the Team Leader to review
the level of activity, thereby identifying any cameras that are no longer
required or should be considered for relocation.
CCTV Control operator names have been redacted under Section 40(2) FOI in
protection of their data rights. You have the right under Section 17 of
the Act to ask for an internal review in respect of this decision,
followed by the right to complain to the Information Commissioner, who can
be contacted at [1]https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Yours sincerely
Lynette Paterson
Principal Information Management Officer
Finance – Digital and Improvement
Wirral Council
PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ
Email: [2][Wirral Borough Council request email]
Visit our website: [3]www.wirral.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.
References
Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
2. mailto:[wirral%20borough%20council%20request%20email]
3. http://www.wirral.gov.uk/
Dear Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'CCTV hamilton square birkenhead deplyment decisions'.
REASONS -
I have requested-
1- all information relating to the Wirral Council criteria you appear to refer to such that deployment decisions are apparently not reviewed where a camera such as this has not been identified as at a site with limited usage requiring review, to include any related reports, policies or decisions regarding the assessment of need to review cctv deployments.
2 - all information relating to Wirral Council’s compliance or otherwise with, and the extent to which Wirral council has had regard to, the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act, to include any related reports, policies or decisions, and in particular regarding one of the guiding principles of that being that the user of a surveillance camera system must take into account its effect on individuals and their privacy, with regular reviews to ensure its use remains justified.
3 - the council's cctv code refers to annual reviews and periodic audits, please provide the most recent review and the most recent audit for this camera.
In response you have provided only bare data regarding ‘all camera access requests made by Emergency Control Centre operators’ from 08/11/2023 to 04/03/2024.
That is not an adequate response to my requests.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
John Jones
Dear Mr Jones
Your request for an internal review of the Council’s handling of your
enquiry reference FOI 1680680 has now been completed.
As previously noted, the Emergency Control Centre Team Leader undertakes
an audit and review of CCTV camera operations; this includes dip sampling
and cross-referencing various electronic system recorded and officer
generated logs relating to the operation of the CCTV system. This is
across a defined period of time and not documented camera by camera. Any
underutilisation of cameras identified as part of this regular process is
raised directly with ECC staff and is not recorded and therefore cannot be
disclosed under the remit of this legislation. As part of this process,
no cameras have been assessed as no longer being required in their current
locations.
Following recent changes to the structure of the Emergency Control Centre
and appointment to those new posts, the operation of the ECC has been
reviewed and the assessment of all cameras will be more formally
documented on an annual basis (every January). This assessment will be
signed off by the Emergency Control Centre Senior Manager. This will be
in addition to the ongoing audit, review and assessment process.
We trust this provides an explanation regarding the Council’s response. If
you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s
Office, contact details for which have been provided previously.
Yours sincerely
Lynette Paterson
Principal Information Management Officer
Finance – Digital Data and Technology
Wirral Council
PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ
Email: [1][Wirral Borough Council request email]
Visit our website: [2]www.wirral.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Wirral Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.wirral.gov.uk/
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