§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility the Metropolitan police has for the installation of closed circuit television schemes. [46369]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Metropolitan Police has no statutory duty for the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) schemes in public places. However, the Commissioner tells me that, in supporting such CCTV systems, the Metropolitan Police provides secondary monitoring to local CCTV initiatives. The police division in the borough covered by CCTV will have a "slave monitoring system", comprising monitors with a control function, capable of accepting pictures from a public place surveillance system. These systems are normally monitored from a local authority or other external CCTV primary monitoring control room. Where a police354W response may be required, information is passed to the police division for a decision on police action. This is the case for all the systems, bar those in Oxford Street where the primary monitoring is by police officers. The Metropolitan Police is currently involved in 30 systems, with a further 15 in the planning/installation phase.
To reflect a positive lead for "Partnership in CCTV", the Metropolitan Police's Community Safety and Partnership Policy Unit has developed comprehensive guidance on Public Place CCTV schemes. The policy reflects the issue of privacy for the individual by promoting accountability and supervision while ensuring flexibility to fulfil the objectives of preventing and detecting crime.
In addition, the Metropolitan Police uses video technology in a wide range of applications ranging from:
assisting the police in fighting crime e.g. Operations Bumblebee and Eagle Eye;supporting ceremonial and operational events, thus providing protection to the general public and dignitaries;support for anti-terrorist activities;protection of victims/potential victims of violent crime;traffic cameras, roadside/motorway video systems;protection of the Metropolitan Police's property and personnel.