CCTV in Woking

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Background
Basic principles
Partnership objectives
Control Room
Code of Practice, Standard Operating Procedure and Annual Report
Working in partnership
Areas covered

Background

In 1994, the Council approved the development of a Woking Town Centre CCTV system in partnership with Surrey Police. On 12 July of that year, a steering group was formed to agree some basic principles which would lead into the design and installation of the system.

Basic principles

The Council would look to fund capital costs, including the provision of a CCTV Control Room, and support the maintenance and management of the system.

Surrey Police Woking would look to fund the revenue costs of staffing the Control Room.

Partnership objectives

To help reduce the fear of crime and offer reassurance to the public.
To prevent, detect and deter crime.
To help identify, apprehend and prosecute offenders.
To provide the Police, the Council and, where relevant, third parties with evidence to take civil and criminal proceedings in the courts.
To provide a safer environment for those who live, work and trade in the area and those who visit the area.
To boost the town centre economy and encourage greater use of the town centre facilities - shopping, entertainment, leisure etc.
To assist with management of the town centre car parks.
To help maintain public order.

Control Room

The CCTV Manager has day-to-day responsibility for the system.
The system is operated in accordance with all requirements and principles of the Human Rights Act 1998.
The system is operated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 at all times.
The public interest in the operation of the system is recognised by ensuring the security and integrity of operational procedures.

Code of Practice, Standard Operating Procedure and Annual Report

CCTV is one of the most powerful tools to be developed in recent years to assist with the efforts to combat crime and disorder, whilst enhancing community safety.

Equally, CCTV is regarded by some as the most potent infringement of people's liberty.

The public interest in Woking's CCTV is protected by a comprehensive Code of Practice and a Standard Operating Procedure.

These documents help ensure that the partnership acts with the utmost probity at all times.

A clear audit trail of practices and procedures ensures that the system is only used in a manner which stands up to scrutiny, both in terms of the evidence gathered and the activities of users, owners and operators.

You can read the 2011 annual report here.

Working in partnership

CCTV supports the work of Safer Woking, the statutory crime and disorder partnership.

Surrey Police has agreed to staff and operate Woking's CCTV system, in partnership with Woking Borough Council, which supports a 10-year fully comprehensive maintenance contract of the system (last renewed in August 2008).

Areas covered

Woking Town Centre - 63 cameras

Woking Borough Council Car Parks - 380 cameras

Sheerwater Village - 13 cameras

West Byfleet Village - 22 cameras

Knaphill Village - 5 cameras

Woking Town Centre, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) - 13 cameras

Woking Railway Station - 16 cameras

Camberley Town Centre (monitored by the Woking Control Room on behalf of Surrey Heath Borough Council) - 30 cameras