Council’s CCTV team captures gold standard Home Office accreditation

The Home Office has awarded a top British Standard accreditation to Cheshire East Council’s CCTV team – the people who work around-the-clock to make the borough’s streets safe.

It is the second time in a year the team has received recognition for the quality of its operation, its high standard of security and the service it delivers to the residents of the borough.

The British Standard 7958 means the service has been independently audited by the Home Office. The accreditation states the data collected in the form of video images, are gathered ‘…in the most professional, proportionate and ethical manner.’

It goes on to applaud the service for:

• Its high standard of training and development of staff;
• Operational procedures which are established and followed;
• Camera operations which are all necessary for reducing crime; and
• Making it safe ‘for citizens to go about their lawful business’. 

The latest accreditation builds on the kitemark received a year ago when the team was awarded a stage two UK surveillance camera award, following a detailed audit by the National Security Inspectorate.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council chair of environment and communities, said: “Our CCTV operatives work 24/7 studying the images channelled through our many cameras dotted around our streets and car parks.

“We know that this lends real reassurance to our residents – particularly women and older people walking alone – and helps all our residents feel safe on our streets, and that the monitoring service is operated with the utmost professionalism.

“Once again I am pleased to be able to congratulate the team on another significant achievement.”

The team works closely with Cheshire police and the council’s enforcement officers. They can direct them to an incident or suspicious behaviour within minutes and provide the vital video evidence to support any prosecution.

Superintendent Peter Crowcroft, from Cheshire police, said: “CCTV plays a valuable part in helping people feel safe, at the same time as acting as a deterrent for criminals, so it’s great to hear the council has received this accreditation. 

“Effective CCTV monitoring and use is valuable in criminal investigations and has helped us track down suspects and bring them to justice on many occasions.”

The team often handles more than 1,000 incidents a year, helping to coordinate scores of arrests and provide the captured CCTV images to secure criminal conviction.

But it has also helped to locate missing vulnerable persons so that they can be returned to a safe refuge, such as a care home.

All data gathered via CCTV is treated in the strictest confidence, staff are highly trained and vetted, and the service adheres to the guidelines set down under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.