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Planning permits needed for home CCTV?
The number of homeowners protecting their properties with the use of CCTV in Jersey is becoming more common but so too are the number of complaints the Island’s Data Protection Commission receive from neighbours who are concerned about the invasion of privacy, according to a fresh report by a panel of politicians. The Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel who’ve been reviewing camera surveillance in the Island, says that requiring Planning permission could be the answer.
The panel recommends that the Planning Minister gives serious consideration to reviewing the classification of CCTV as "permitted development" to give neighbours the opportunity to challenge the location of cameras.
The review suggests it would also be helpful to neighbours if all domestic CCTV operators were obliged to register their systems with the Data Protection Commission.
The Scrutiny Panel believes that the public deserves to have confidence that the use of camera surveillance in Jersey is reasonable, justifiable and transparent.
It has been reviewing three important developments in CCTV which are being led by the States of Jersey Police - the renewal and digitalisation of the Town Centre CCTV network, the introduction of body worn cameras for police officers, and the proposal for a fixed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera surveillance system around St Helier.
The Panel wants to see informed public debate and political approval by the States before the ANPR system is introduced.
It would provide the Police with the capability to monitor virtually all traffic movements in and out of St Helier and is capable of being linked to an extensive database holding significant information on Islanders.
Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel Chairman Deputy Jeremy Maçon said: “I can understand that looking at the recommendations contained in this report could lead the reader to think that the Panel is anti-Big Brother. This report is not about the feelings of the Panel Members. It is about the evidence. The evidence established by the Panel shows that the provision for the control of CCTV, particularly by the States of Jersey Police and the Data Protection Commission is in need of updating to meet modern requirements in areas of transparency, responsibility and accountability.”
The recommendations will have cost implications. More manpower will need to be invested in particular in the Data Protection Commission. The Panel believe it is an associated cost that must be met in preparation for the introduction of Freedom of Information legislation in 2015.
The findings of the Review have now been submitted to the States.
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