This notice provides clarification on what information we collect through:
- public space CCTV recordings
- the purposes of such recordings
- how images are stored and retained
It also details what other information may be collected by community safety for the purposes of evaluating CCTV support and solutions.
The East Ayrshire Council public space CCTV system is in operation across East Ayrshire providing recorded images 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purposes of crime detection and prevention, and in the interests of public safety, risk management and environmental protection.
Responsibilities of the Risk Management Centre
Our Risk Management Centre (RMC) maintains and manages the Council’s CCTV resources including:
- 78 public space CCTV cameras
- the community safety CCTV van
- re-deployable cameras and rapid deployable cameras
- property and schools (responsive monitoring only)
- Police Scotland evidential review suite
Signage alerting the public to the use of CCTV in the area is mounted within public view in the areas in which it is operational, including signs displayed on and in the vicinity of the community safety van and re-deployable cameras.
Responsibility for your information
All personal information captured by public space CCTV cameras or by Community Safety is held and processed by East Ayrshire Council as Data Controllers in accordance with data protection law.
For information on the role of the Data Controller, Data Protection Officer and contact details for the Council, please refer to our Privacy Statement.
What personal information we need and why
Images of individuals may be collected on public space CCTV cameras in the East Ayrshire area. It is necessary to collect such images for the following purposes:
- to help with the reduction or negation of criminal activity within East Ayrshire
- to help with the increased apprehension and prosecution of offenders
- risk Management and environmental concerns
- to increase public safety and public reassurance
- to reduce the fear of crime
Other personal information may be provided to Community Safety by other council services or partner agencies for the purposes of evaluating CCTV support and solutions for vulnerable individuals or communities.
This information informs the requirement for CCTV in a particular area.
Lawful basis for processing personal information
The processing of information within Community Safety is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
CCTV may capture more sensitive information about individuals.
This processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest, for the prevention or detection of unlawful acts and to carry out a key function as set out in law, namely Section 163 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Who we will share your information with
Community Safety may receive personal information from or share personal information with:
- Police Scotland
- Scottish Fire & Rescue
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- Victim Support
- Community Safety
- Housing Services
- Vibrant Communities
- Health & Social Care Partnership
- MAPS
- Ayrshire Roads Alliance
- Council Enforcement Unit
- Waste Management
- Insurance Providers
- Solicitors
We will also make any disclosures required by law and may also share information with other bodies responsible for:
- detecting or preventing fraud, or
- auditing and administering public funds
We will ensure that any external agency which received disclosed information is fully aware of and accepts it responsibility as outlined in within the General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018.
How long we keep your information
The retention of images from public space CCTV cameras is 31 days.
After this time data is overwritten unless required by law enforcement or insurance providers for the provision of evidence.
Schools and buildings CCTV images may also be retained for 31 days although at some sites, due to the nature of the technology present, retention will be seven days.
Other personal information captured by Community Safety will be retained for as long as necessary in line with our Council approved Retention Schedule (PDF 814 KB) which explains how long we keep information for.
Providing accurate information
It is important that we hold accurate and up-to-date information.
If any details have changed, or change in the future, then individuals should ensure that they inform our Community Safety manager as soon as possible so that they can update their records accordingly.
Individuals' data protection rights
Under data protection legislation, individuals have the right to request access to information about them that the Council holds.
Individuals also have the right to:
- object to processing of personal data that is likely to cause, or is causing damage or distress
- prevent processing for the purpose of direct marketing
- object to decisions being taken by automated means
- in certain circumstances, have inaccurate personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed
- in certain circumstances, transfer their data to another organisation (data portability)
How to contact us
Individuals can contact us:
- regarding their data protection rights and the processing of their data
- if they have a concern about the way the Council is collecting or using their personal data
They should raise their concern with our Data Protection Officer in the first instance. Contact details can be found on our Privacy Statement.