CCTV Policy

1.0 Background

1.1 Northside Truck & Van uses closed circuit television (CCTV) images for the prevention, identification and reduction of crime and monitor the our depots in order to provide a safe and secure environment for staff and visitors, and to help prevent the loss or damage to Northside property.

1.2 CCTV surveillance at Northside depots is intended for the purposes of:

  • protecting the Northside buildings and assets, 24 hours a day;
  • promoting the health and safety of staff and visitors;
  • preventing any misconduct;
  • reducing the incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour (including theft and vandalism);
  • supporting the Police in a bid to deter and detect crime;
  • assisting in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting offenders

1.3 each Northside Truck & Van location comprises of fixed cameras.

1.4 The CCTV system is owned and operated by Northside and the deployment of which is determined by the companies board members.

1.5 The CCTV is monitored by each site with overall control by Northsides Directors.

1.6 All authorised operators and employees with access to images are aware of the procedures that need to be followed when accessing the recorded images. All operators are trained in their responsibilities under the CCTV Code of Practice. All employees are aware of the restrictions in relation to access to, and disclosure of, recorded images.

1.7 Northside complies with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) CCTV Code of Practice to ensure it is used responsibly and safeguards both trust and confidence in its continued use.

1.8 The use of the CCTV system will be conducted in a professional, ethical and legal manner and any diversion of the use of CCTV security technologies for other purposes is prohibited by this policy e.g. CCTV will not be used for monitoring employee performance.

1.9 CCTV monitoring of public areas for security purposes will be conducted in a manner consistent with all existing policies adopted by Northside Truck & Van, including Dignity at Work Policy, Codes of Practice for dealing with complaints of Bullying & Harassment and Sexual Harassment and other relevant policies, including the provisions set down in equality and other educational and related legislation.

2.0 Justification for Use of CCTV

2.1 The use of CCTV to control the perimeter of Northside buildings & grounds for security purposes has been deemed to be justified by the company board. The system is intended to capture images of intruders or of individuals damaging property or removing goods without authorisation or of anti- social & reckless behaviour.

2.2 CCTV systems will not be used to monitor normal staff activity working environment unless it is deemed appropriate for staff safety.

3.0 Data Protection Impact Assessments

3.1 Where new CCTV systems or cameras are to be installed, Northside will carry out a full Data Protection Impact Assessment identifying risks related to the installation and ensuring full compliance with data protection legislation.

3.2 Where existing CCTV systems are in operation as of November 2020, Northside will endeavour to carry out a full Data Protection Impact Assessment on any upgrade or replacement of the system or within a 3 year period from the date of the implementation of GDPR, whichever is sooner.

4.0 Location of Cameras

4.1 Cameras will be sited so they only capture images relevant to the purposes for which they are installed and care will be taken to ensure that reasonable privacy expectations are not violated.

4.2 Northside will ensure that the location of equipment is carefully considered to ensure that images captured comply with the Data Protection Act. Northside will make every effort to position cameras so that their coverage is restricted to Northside Truck & Van premises, which includes indoor & outdoor areas.

4.3 CCTV will not be used in Boardrooms, restrooms, changing rooms.

4.4 Use of CCTV to monitor areas where individuals would have a reasonable expectation of privacy would be difficult to justify. Northside Truck & Van has endeavoured to select locations for the installation of CCTV cameras which are least intrusive to protect the privacy of individuals.

4.5 Cameras placed so as to record external areas are positioned in such a way as to prevent or minimise recording of passers-by or of another person's private property.

4.6 CCTV Video Monitoring and Recording of Public Areas may include the following:

  • Protection of buildings, assets and property: The building’s perimeter, entrances and exits, lobbies and corridors, special storage areas, office locations, receiving areas for goods/services
  • Monitoring of Access Control Systems: Monitor and record restricted access areas at entrances to buildings and other areas
  • Verification of Security Alarms: Intrusion alarms, exit door controls, external alarms
  • Criminal Investigations (carried out by police): Robbery, burglary and theft surveillance

5.0 Covert Surveillance

5.1 Northside Truck & Van will not engage in covert surveillance.

5.0 Notification

5.1 A copy of this CCTV Policy will be provided on request to staff and visitors to our depots and will be made available on www.northside.co.uk.

5.2 The location of CCTV cameras will also be indicated and adequate signage will be placed at each location in which a CCTV camera(s) is sited to indicate that CCTV is in operation.

5.3 Adequate signage will also be prominently displayed at the entrance to Northside Truck & Van. Signage shall include the name and contact details of the data controller as well as how to find more information regarding cctv usage and this policy.

Appropriate locations for signage will include:

  • at entrances to premises i.e. external doors, gates, Perimeter fences, buildings,

6.0 Storage and Retention

6.1 The images captured by the CCTV system will be retained for a maximum of 30 days, except where the image identifies an issue and is retained specifically in the context of an investigation/prosecution of that issue.

6.2 The images/recordings will be stored in a secure environment with a log of access kept.

6.3 Access will be restricted to authorised personnel. Supervising the access and maintenance of the CCTV System is the responsibility of the Managing Director. The Managing Director may delegate the administration of the CCTV System to another staff member.

6.4 In certain circumstances, the recordings may also be viewed by other individuals in order to achieve the objectives set out above. When CCTV recordings are being viewed, access will be limited to authorised individuals on a need-to-know basis.

6.5 Files/Tapes/DVDs will be stored in a secure environment with a log of access to tapes kept. Access will be restricted to authorised personnel. Similar measures will be employed when using disk storage, with automatic logs of access to the images created.

7.0 ACCESS

7.1 Recorded footage and the monitoring equipment will be securely stored in a restricted area. Unauthorised access to that area will not be permitted at any time. The area will be locked when not occupied by authorised personnel. A log of access to footage will be maintained.

7.2 Access to the CCTV system and stored images will be restricted to authorised personnel only.

7.3 When accessing images two authorised members of staff must be present. A written record of access will be made. Records of access will be kept.

7.4 A record of the date of any disclosure request along with details of who the information has been provided to (the name of the person and the organisation they represent), why they required it and how the request was dealt with will be made and kept, in case of challenge.

7.5 Data will be provided to those requests authorised in a permanent format where possible. If this is not possible the data subject will be offered the opportunity to view the footage.

7.6 In relevant circumstances, CCTV footage may be accessed:

  • By the police where Wharton Northside Truck & Van (or its agents) are required by law to make a report regarding the commission of a suspected crime; or
  • Following a request by the police when a crime or suspected crime has taken place and/or when it is suspected that illegal/anti-social behaviour is taking place on Northside Truck & Van property.
  • To assist the Managing Director in establishing facts in cases of unacceptable employee behaviour.
  • To data subjects (or their legal representatives), pursuant to a Subject Access Request or
  • To individuals (or their legal representatives) subject to a court order.
  • To Northside Truck & Vans insurance company where the insurance company requires same in order to pursue a claim for damage done to the insured property.

8.0 Subject Access Requests (SAR)

8.1 Individuals have the right to request access to CCTV footage relating to themselves under the Data Protection Act, It is stressed that this will only happen if no other person is evident.

8.2 Individuals submitting requests for access will be asked to provide sufficient information to enable the footage relating to them to be identified. For example, date, time and location.

8.3 Northside Truck & van will respond to requests within 30 calendar days of receiving the request.

8.4 Northside Truck & Van reserves the right to refuse access to CCTV footage where this would prejudice the legal rights of other individuals or jeopardise an on-going investigation.

8.5 A record of the date of the disclosure along with details of who the information has been provided to (the name of the person and the organisation they represent) and why they required it will be made.

8.6 In giving a person a copy of their data, Northside will provide a still/series of still pictures, a tape or a disk with relevant images. However, other images of other individuals will be obscured before the data is released.

8.7 Where footage contains images relating to 3rdparties, Northside Truck & Van will take appropriate steps to mask and protect the identities of those individuals.

9.0 Complaints

9.1 Complaints and enquiries about the operation of CCTV within Northside premises should be directed to the Managing Director in the first instance.

10.0 Staff Training

10..1 Staff authorised to access the CCTV system will be trained to comply with this policy. Staff will understand that all information relating to the CCTV images must be handled securely.

10.2 Staff will receive appropriate training to enable them to identify and handle different requests according to regulations.

10.3 Staff misuse of surveillance system information will lead to disciplinary proceedings.

11.0 Responsibilities

11.1 The Managing Director (or nominated deputy) will:

  • Ensure that the use of CCTV systems is implemented in accordance with the policy set down by Northside Truck & Van.
  • Oversee and co-ordinate the use of CCTV monitoring for safety and security purposes within Northside Truck & Van premises.
  • Ensure that all existing CCTV monitoring systems will be evaluated for compliance with this policy
  • Ensure that the CCTV monitoring at Northside Truck & Van is consistent with the highest standards and protections
  • Review camera locations and be responsible for the release of any information or recorded CCTV materials stored in compliance with this policy
  • Maintain a record of access (e.g. an access log) to or the release of tapes or any material recorded or stored in the system
  • Ensure that the perimeter of view from fixed location cameras conforms to this policy both internally and externally.
  • Give consideration to both staff & customers or nearby residents feedback/complaints regarding possible invasion of privacy or confidentiality due to the location of a particular CCTV camera or associated equipment.
  • Co-operate with the Health & Safety Officer of Northside Truck & van in reporting on the CCTV system in operation in the Northsides premises.
  • Ensure that external cameras are non-intrusive in terms of their positions and views of neighbouring residential housing and comply with the principle of “Reasonable Expectation of Privacy”.
  • Ensure that monitoring footage are stored in a secure place with access by authorised personnel only.
  • Ensure that images recorded on tapes/DVDs/digital recordings are stored for a period not longer than30 daysand are then erased unless required as part of a criminal investigation or court proceedings (criminal or civil).
  • Ensure that when a zoom facility on a camera is being used, there is a second person present with the operator of the camera to guarantee that there is no unwarranted invasion of privacy.
  • Ensure that camera control is solely to monitor suspicious behaviour, criminal damage etc. and not to monitor individual characteristics.
  • Ensure that camera control is not infringing an individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy in public areas.

To request access to CCTV please contact by telephone or email enquiry@northside.co.uk