The Isle of Wight Council CCTV system was launched in July 1998 using the Home Office capital funding under the CCTV Initiative. It now comprises 97 CCTV cameras (7 of which are re-deployable, i.e. could be moved around the Island as required) in Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Cowes and St Mary’s Hospital. The CCTV Control Room is located in Newport. It is linked to the Police Control Room in Netley in order to ensure response/re-deployment of police resources as required.

Over the last 10 years the CCTV scheme has continued to provide images that are of the standard required by the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office. The service provides images that are used by the Police for Court prosecutions and represents value for money.

CCTV Controllers employed by the Isle of Wight Council monitor all cameras at the Control Room, which is staffed 24 hours every day. The CCTV Controllers are all licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

There are currently seven re-deployable cameras, four of which have dial up facilities that allows them to have a check in option to view live images at targeted times.

The re-deployable cameras are allocated on an evidence-led basis through the well regulated multi-agency Partnership Tasking and Coordinating Group (sub-group of the statutory Community Safety Partnership – CSP, of which the Council is a party).

There is also a demand and a capacity to use re-deployable CCTV cameras in non-priority areas if requested by Parish and Town Councils or other partner agencies on the Island.

The CCTV Service has introduced fees for the use of re-deployable CCTV cameras in non-priority locations on the Isle of Wight (please see Appendix 4).

An application for a re-deployable camera may be made by returning the completed Application Form (Appendix 2) to the CCTV Manager for evaluation. Guidance to assist with the completion of the Application form (Appendix 1) and a process map (Appendix 3) are available upon request.

The rental scheme will help to recover costs associated with their re-deployment in line with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.


In addition to Council policies, procedures, guidelines and Codes of Practice, the CCTV and its operation are subject to legislation under:

It is important to note that the operation of all Council run CCTV systems comply with these Acts, policies, procedures, guidelines and Codes of Practice. This is to ensure that Council staff running the CCTV systems, the public and the Council itself are protected from abuses to the CCTV systems.

On occasions, there may be an operational need for an emergency deployment of a re-deployable camera. In this instance, the CCTV Manager will assess the current deployment of the mobile CCTV cameras and may have to re-allocate a camera on rental loan. If this decision is taken the appropriate agency will be informed and any rental fees will cease at the time of any emergency re-deployment.

Relevant information from the Council’s web-site.
http://www.iwight.com/closed_circuit.asp

Darren Vaughan, CCTV Manager, ☎ 01983 821000, e-mail darren.vaughan@iow.gov.uk