NSW Police will have real-time access to a small number of the City’s public security cameras following community feedback.
City of Coffs Harbour Council (CCHC) adopted a revised Video Surveillance in Public Areas Policy at its meeting on 28 May and will now look at entering a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coffs-Clarence Police Command to enable controlled live access to specified cameras in the CCTV network.
Ten submissions were received during the public exhibition period of the draft policy, which reflected a level of community support for the use of CCTV for community safety, and others which noted concern about governance, privacy, and the scope of proposed access.
“Police have always been able to access footage from the City’s camera network but this has only been possible by way of them making a formal request, so that practice isn’t at all timely in an unfolding public safety situation,” said CCHC Mayor Nikki Williams.
“Once a MoU is reached, authorised officers only in the local command will be able to see footage in real-time, enhancing the ability for an appropriate timely response.”
NSW Police use state government guidelines on CCTV in public spaces as the basis for the development, management and operation of a CCTV program.
The guidelines advise that police will not routinely monitor CCTV cameras because their role is to respond to incidents identified by control room operators.
CCHC Legal and Governance Services Group Leader, Darryl Hancock, said the policy included safeguards around access such as strong oversight, compliance with relevant privacy laws, and the assurance that access was strictly for the purpose of detecting, investigating, or prosecuting criminal offences, and to enhance public safety and emergency management.
He said, “In practice, police won’t be monitoring City CCTV feeds without cause, but it will give authorised officers the opportunity to view footage in real-time when they receive an incident report.
“The City intends to provide authorised police with access to only those cameras in public areas where it is deemed appropriate.”
By Andrew VIVIAN
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