§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the extent of video surveillance by the police of the public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 14 November 1989]: No central record is held of the use of video surveillance by the police of the public. The police use CCTV in a range of circumstances—for example, for traffic control or in operations against crime. Where such equipment is used its use is subject to guidelines issued by the Home Office in 1984. We are aware of a number of crime prevention schemes around the country which involve the use of CCTV and we understand that in most of these the CCTV equipment is operated by local authorities or private security companies.