Delay In Publishing CCTV Law Proposal

Story link: Delay In Publishing CCTV Law Proposal by Jan Harris

A joint review of CCTV effectiveness, by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office, will be published 3 months later than planned, to allow time for the Home office to consider concerns raised by social and civil liberties groups.

The proposal was drafted in 2006, in consultation with CCTV operators and law enforcers, but the effectiveness of CCTV was taken for granted after the important role it played following the terrorist bomb attacks on London on 7 July 2005.

The consultation involved a range of organisations involved in CCTV, including transport and retail industries, local authorities, and police anti-terrorism units. It was carried out during 2006 through a series of workshops.

Citizen or civil liberties organisations were not consulted, however, and although their concerns were in mind throughout the consultation process, they are now being considered by the Home Office, which has yet to sign the proposals off and pass them to ministers.

The proposals include legislation to force all operators of CCTV equipment to upgrade it to police specifications so that it could be used for identification and evidence.