HC Deb 15 March 1999 vol 327 c496W
Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he gives to people installing closed circuit television about issues of privacy, retention of recordings and the need to follow a published code of practice. [74596]

Mr. Boateng

A code of practice for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems is essential to ensure that CCTV is operated with integrity and respect for personal privacy. Public space CCTV systems funded under the Home Office Challenge Competition should comply with the best practice code developed by the Local Government Information Unit.

The Data Protection Act 1998 will provide a framework for the statutory regulation of CCTV systems.

The Data Protection Registrar has started to develop a code of practice, to be issued under her new powers as Data Protection Commissioner. This code will provide guidance to CCTV operators on how to comply with the Act's requirements.