The CCTV service in Dunstable was established in 1995 and currently monitors 90 CCTV cameras. The cameras are primarily located in town centres, in car parks and a number of smaller retail areas.  The cameras are recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The CCTV operators are skilled and licensed in compliance with the Council’s CCTV Code of Practice

The presence of the system: 

• Reduces crime, anti-social behaviour, nuisance and drug and alcohol misuse
• Assists in securing arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators of crimes and provides evidential material for court proceedings
• Provides assistance and direction in the event of a major emergency
• Enhances community safety throughout Central Bedfordshire

There are 106 public space surveillance CCTV cameras within Central Bedfordshire. The cameras are monitored between two control rooms, one in Dunstable and one in Stevenage. Images are recorded at both control rooms and stored for 21 days at Dunstable and 28 days at Stevenage. Both control rooms are staffed by fully trained operators and have a dedicated radio and visual link with their respective police headquarters control rooms.

 There are 90 cameras monitored from Dunstable which are sited in various locations in the following areas:

• Dunstable
• Leighton Buzzard
• Houghton Regis
• Caddington

There are 16 cameras monitored from Stevenage CCTV which are sited in various locations in the following areas:

• Biggleswade
• Sandy
• Shefford

Retail radio link is a system that allows businesses including retail shops and public houses to contact each other by radio. For each premises a nominated member of staff carries the radio and is able to receive messages in real time from other members of the system about suspicious activity in their area, or is able to alert others to the same. Radio traffic is monitored and supported by a CCTV operator. When an incident occurs the radio link can be used to pass on any relevant information, to request the CCTV control room monitor a situation, or request further assistance.

The retail radio link operates in both CCTV control rooms, and it covers

• Dunstable
• Leighton Buzzard
• Houghton Regis
• Biggleswade
• Sandy

Radio link plays a major part in keeping communities safe and further assists the police in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. For more information or assistance with Radio link please contact the CCTV Manager at Central Bedfordshire Council on 0300 300 8302.

Central Bedfordshire Council, in close liaison with Bedfordshire Police, are required by the Data Commissioner to produce a CCTV Code of Practice for the operation of its CCTV cameras. Copies of the code can be obtained by contacting a member of the Community Safety Team on 0300 300 8302.   

The CCTV system will only be used to achieve the aims and objectives as set out in the Code of Practice. 

CCTV cameras are carefully positioned to respect the privacy of the public and residential properties – they will not overlook any areas where privacy is expected without authority.

Signs are displayed covering the area’s where cameras are in operation and information is gathered. All data collected is held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Surveillance of CCTV is governed by a Code of Practice and is strictly regulated in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and Freedom of Information Act.

The CCTV Control Rooms are a restricted area and there is no right of access to the Public.

Central Bedfordshire works closely with various other agencies to ensure that the CCTV system is as efficient and effective as possible.

 Some of the agencies involved are:

• Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police
• Town and Parish councils
• Fire Service / Ambulance Service
• Local Retail Associations

Central Bedfordshire Council recognises that the use of CCTV could potentially impact on a member of the public’s right to respect for private life afforded by Article eight of the European Convention of Human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The CCTV system primarily records images of a street scene involving unknown individuals.  However it may still be collecting personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998. Personal data is information including images that relates to a living individual who can be either:

• identified from that data or
• can be identified from the information combined with any other information that is in the possession of the person or organisation holding the information.

Basic personal data includes name, address, and vehicle registration number.

Subject to certain exemptions you have a right to be told whether any personal data is held about you.  You also have a right to a copy of the information in a permanent form except where the supply of such a copy is not possible or would involve disproportionate effort.

Central Bedfordshire Council will only give that information if it is satisfied as to your identity. If the release of the information will disclose information relating to another individual(s) who can be identified from that information, the Council is not obliged to comply with the request unless the other individual has consented to disclosure of information or it is reasonable in all circumstances to comply with the request without the consent of the other individual(s).

Central Bedfordshire Council may deny access to information where the Act allows. The main exemptions in relation to information held on the CCTV system are where the information may be held for the prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension and prosecution of offenders and giving you the information may be likely to prejudice any of these purposes.

Please be aware that if your enquiry is in connection with a crime that has been reported to the police, the police may have already requested any images that have been recorded and the review would be carried out at no cost to you. If your enquiry is in connection with a vehicle accident then the enquiry should be made by your insurance company.

Any person requesting an image should make a request in writing to the CCTV Manager, Central Bedfordshire Council, Watling House, High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1LF.  An administration fee of £10.00 for each request will apply.