Agenda item

Councillor Bruce Baker attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor in support of the request for the retention of the CCTV camera in The Sigers.  The petition had originally been considered by Councillor Mills on 18 March 2010 and it had been resolved to install a temporary wireless CCTV camera in the road and then report back to the Cabinet Member after three months for further consideration.  This period had now expired and the matter was due for reconsideration.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Before the temporary CCTV camera had been installed, there had been a significant number of incidents such as graffiti, vandalism and a wall being knocked down that had mostly taken place after dark.  Since the camera’s installation, these incidents had reduced and residents were concerned that taking it away now that the nights were drawing in would result in things going back to the way they were;
• Residents requested that the CCTV camera be left in situ for a further trial period as the anti-social behaviour came in peaks and troughs;
• One of the residents who had lived in the road for eight years had had her car vandalised more than a dozen times and had twice found graffiti on her wall.  Following the latest vandalism incident, this resident had been advised that the CCTV footage had been obscured by a tree so the culprit could not be identified.  However, it appeared that this advice may have been inaccurate;
• Residents claimed that, with regard to another instance of anti-social behaviour, the police had advised that the CCTV footage was not of sufficient quality to identify the perpetrators.  Residents also advised that, although these young people were CCTV aware and wore baseball caps and hoodies to hide their identities, since the installation of the camera, they were toning down their behaviour;
• Not all of the residents had been told that the camera was being installed and concern was expressed that there were no signs up to warn that CCTV was in operation.  It was believed that signs would have acted as an increased deterrent;
• The alleyway that ran from The Sigers to Highgrove Pool had caused problems for the police in that there were about six exits from the alleyway which made it difficult for the police to pursue suspects;
• It was noted that the footpath in the alleyway was due to be refurbished with new lighting and residents requested that CCTV be installed at eye level (perhaps in a house brick) at the end of the alleyway at the same time; and
• It was suggested that, if the temporary camera came down, a dummy camera be put up by the Council in its place and a sign be erected advising that CCTV was in operation.

Councillor Douglas Mills listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that the Council had six temporary cameras at its disposal, only two of which were suitable for the smaller lampposts found in residential streets such as The Sigers.  One of these cameras had been located in The Sigers since June 2010.  There was a high demand for these cameras and a greater need elsewhere. 

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 had tightened the restrictions on CCTV cameras so that the Council would have to apply to the Magistrates Court for permission to erect permanent CCTV cameras.  Although the Act restricted the Council’s ability to undertake surveillance, it did not affect residents’ ability to erect their own cameras.  The Council had to prove proportionality and necessity for the permanent installation of covert/overt cameras but the camera had been in place for three months and there had only been three incidents during this period.  

With regard to the young person that was caught on CCTV doing graffiti on the wall, it was noted that the image was perfect but that the police had not yet been able to identify the offender.  The image would be held on file until he was caught.  With regard to the incident mentioned by the resident where the camera’s sightline had been obscured by a tree, officers advised that they would clarify the situation with the resident outside of the meeting.

Councillor Mills advised that he would not consent to the CCTV camera remaining but that, if the level of crime increased after it had been taken down, consideration would be given to putting the camera back up.  In the meantime, residents were urged to report any incidents of criminal activity to the police so that this could be used as supporting evidence for any future request to reinstate the camera.  If residents wished to erect a dummy camera on the lamppost when the CCTV camera came down, they would need to request permission from the Council. 

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Member for Improvement, Partnerships and Community Safety discussed with petitioners in detail their concerns, and advised as follows:

1. The Council has encouraged the local Police Safer Neighbourhood Team to patrol The Sigers more frequently on Friday and Saturday evenings after 23:00, as this tends to be the peak times of the incidents after the pubs close.  The police agreed to this and have done so;

2. A portable wireless CCTV camera was purchased by the Council following the Petition Hearing on 18 March 2010 and was installed in The Sigers in June 2010;

3. The number of incidents in The Sigers which have been reported by residents or detected by the camera has not been high during the period since the camera was installed.  It is therefore proposed to move the camera to a higher priority location;

4. Permanent CCTV in The Sigers is not a practical solution to the problem, as it would not be proportionate to the problem and would not satisfy the requirement of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA); and

5. Residents are advised to continue to report incidents when they occur so that the level of problem in the area can be re-assessed in future.

Reasons for recommendation

To address the concerns of the residents and update them on progress since the Petition Hearing on 18 March 2010. 

Alternative options considered

Dummy CCTV cameras could be secured to a lamp post.  The Council discourages the use of dummy cameras as they give an impression of safety without the ability to provide any evidence if an incident were to occur.

Fencing the whole strip of footpath on The Sigers side would be unlawful, even though access can be gained from another entrance.  The footpath is also too narrow to permit fencing and it is not possible to widen it as the road is too narrow.