Corporate CCTV Policy - March 2026

5. Purchasing and Deployment of CCTV Cameras

5.1. All new or significantly altered CCTV systems (including body-worn and vehicle mounted) intended for use by the Council must receive formal sign-off from the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), or their nominated delegate, prior to implementation.

This approval process must be in accordance with the Council’s Expression of Interest (EOI) procedure, as documented on the CCTV section of the intranet Closed Circuit Television (CCTC).
 
5.2. The Expression of Interest (EOI) process will follow Corporate Properties governance procedures, which will be involved in approving new installation requests to ensure compliance with Health and Safety at Work requirements. 
 
5.3. No CCTV system may be procured, installed, or operated without completing the EOI process and obtaining authorisation from the SIRO. 
 
5.4. Those responsible for introducing and operating CCTV systems must ensure that the use of cameras is proportionate to the intended objective and that individuals' right to privacy is always respected. The EOI must be completed with a clear operational objective for the CCTV system and the relevant DPIA checked to ensure it covers the system. 
 
5.5. Care must be taken to ensure that cameras do not capture images or sounds of private spaces such as private houses. 
 
5.6. Covert cameras are not permitted to be deployed under the auspices of this policy. Such activities fall under the ambit of RIPA or shadow RIPA, and authorisation must be obtained for such activity under the relevant RIPA procedures. CCTV systems should normally be clearly visible with unobstructed signage situated close to the device informing those in the vicinity that they are being monitored and/or recorded. The content of such a sign or notice may differ according to the nature of the device being used, the area it is being used in and the purpose of its use. 
 
5.7. The Council notes that 'dummy' cameras may serve as deterrents, and requests for their use should proceed through the EOI process and be risk-assessed individually, considering the justification provided. 
 
5.8. Smart doorbell cameras may only be deployed at council-owned residential entrances, staff-only access points, and designated public service counters. Installation must be approved through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process and documented in the central CCTV register. All deployments must include signage and comply with privacy impact assessments. 
 
5.9. CCTV systems with Pan, Tilt & Zoom (PTZ) capability will require a justified basis for their procurement, installation, and operation, depending on the nature of the site, the level of potential privacy intrusion, and the purpose and identified need for PTZ capability. They will not be installed as standard.  
 
5.10. Upon the introduction of a static CCTV system, a map showing the location of the camera must be sent to the CCTV SPOC for inclusion in the Council’s central register of CCTV systems.  
 
5.11. Use of CCTV systems must be considered as part of planning a building construction or refurbishment. Advice should be obtained from the Designing Out Crime Officer from Dyfed Powys Police. Authorisation for the deployment of CCTV systems should be shared at an early stage in building design with the Head of Service for whom the building is being constructed. This is so that this policy can be applied and either an alternative method adopted, or an acceptable CCTV system built into the designs. Information about the CCTV system should be retained as part of the file relating to the completed building.