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CCTV

CCTV suite

Our closed circuit television (CCTV) service is designed to make Tower Hamlets a safer place to live, work and visit. Our CCTV operators work in partnership with the local police, community and businesses to help tackle crime and disorder within the borough.

The Council has effective and reliable CCTV coverage. Cameras are placed in selected areas, this is informed by crime statistics.

We operate our CCTV systems in accordance with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

The Council does not use and has no plans to utilise or develop the use of live facial recognition technology although the police may independently deploy such systems as the need arises.

The purpose Public Space Surveillance (PSS) cameras:

  • Reduce the fear of crime
  • Deter and detect crime, providing evidential material for court proceedings as required
  • Assist in the overall management of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets public spaces
  • Assist the local authority in its enforcement and regulatory functions within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
  • Enhance public transport services by deterring misuse of bus lanes therefore reducing delays and increasing reliability of timetables
  • Reducing the cost of repairs as a result of vandalism, criminal damage or any other consequential indiscretions
  • Assist in supporting civil proceedings which will help detect crime
  • Provide effective protective surveillance of council staff going about their lawful business
  • Ensure the safe and efficient operation of the road network through the detection of any breach of traffic and parking regulations
  • Detect any acts of anti-social behaviour

 CCTV monitoring

There are different types of systems available on land managed by us:

  • CCTV in or around areas we manage, such as council housing estates
  • CCTV in public places
  • Temporary or permanent CCTV

It is a linked system of cameras with full pan, tilt and zoom controls, operated remotely from our control room.

There are 380 cameras on highways and in other public places. They are primarily used to help with people’s safety and security.

Recordings are kept for 30 days before deleting them.

Deciding where to place CCTV cameras

Temporary CCTV

The council has several temporary cameras which can be used for short periods to deal with anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and crime.  Decisions on where these cameras are placed are made based on the number of reported incidents

Permanent CCTV

We install permanent CCTV in our housing estates to assist with solving long term issues. We typically work closely with the estate’s tenants and residents association to identify issues

We’ll install permanent CCTV in other public spaces in response to long-term issues.

These include:

  • Violence
  • Drug dealing in or around nightclubs and bars
  • Pick-pocketing
  • Moped crime near shops
  • Terrorist threats to particular areas

We can also install permanent CCTV on routes to and from those areas, to pursue criminals after they have committed offences.

When we’re looking into installing CCTV, we use evidence from:

  • Police
  • Retailers
  • Nighttime business groups
  • Housing associations
  • Council services

Reviewing the borough as a whole, we focus on the areas with the greatest need where CCTV is likely to make the biggest difference.

Housing associations, businesses or resident groups often want CCTV in the area they care about. If you’re part of one of these groups, you can raise funding to install it. Our contractors will install the CCTV and connect it to the council’s system.

Obtaining camera images to assist with civil claims

The council will deal with your insurance company or solicitor if it’s a non-criminal traffic matter. If it is a criminal related offence, it will be handled by the police. The police have a direct process with the council to review footage in the event of a criminal investigation.

Before releasing any images, we need to ensure that the request is legitimate and genuine.

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, third parties can make requests for any one or more of the following purposes in the given circumstances:

  • Providing evidence in criminal proceedings (Schedule 2 Part 1 5(3))
  • Providing evidence in civil proceedings or tribunals (Schedule 2 Part 1 5(3))
  • Prevention of crime (Schedule 2 Part 1 2(1))
  • Investigation and detection of crime (may include identification of offenders) (Schedule 2 Part 1 2(1))
  • Identification of witnesses (Schedule 2 Part 1 2(1))

Third parties must show adequate grounds for disclosure of data within the above criteria. Third parties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Police
  • Statutory authorities with powers to prosecute, (for example Customs and Excise, Trading Standards, etc)
  • Solicitors
  • Claimants in civil proceedings
  • Accused persons or defendants in criminal proceedings
  • Other agencies with a genuine purpose

Make a request to obtain camera images

To make a request email cctv@towerhamlets.gov.uk. You will need to provide:

  1. Solicitor’s or insurer’s name and address, sent from a company email account
  2. The name of the client
  3. Time, date and place of the incident
  4. Vehicle details (vehicle registration mark [VRM], make, model, colour) of all vehicles involved
  5. Description of incident
  6. Any police reference such as an incident number

Once the request is received from the insurers or solicitors, the council will check and respond within ten days advising whether it has been captured or not.  This initial check is free. 

Should the incident be captured, the footage will be saved and retained for six months. We will also send the relevant legal documentation to the solicitor or insurers to complete and return.

We’ll ask your solicitor or insurer to send a BACS payment for £125.00 (plus VAT). They must use the reference number provided so the council can produce the footage with a statement and send it to them.

Why we charge

The public surveillance camera system is primarily installed to deal with crime and disorder. The staff searching for the images would normally be searching for criminal activity. If you think there’s a valid reason we shouldn’t charge for this service in your case please email cctv@towerhamlets.gov.uk

CCTV freedom of information (FOI) requests

CCTV footage cannot be obtained using the Freedom of Information system.

Subject access requests

We can release CCTV footage only if it’s part of a Subject Access Request and third parties are identifiable only if they have consented.

We may refuse to provide footage if it could compromise the:

  • Prevention and detection of crime
  • Apprehension and prosecution of offenders

If we do not hold any data related to your request, or if it falls under an exempt category, you will receive written notification.

Please note, we cannot accept Subject Access Requests from:

  • Victims of a crime
  • Individuals involved in a road traffic collision
  • Insurance companies or legal representatives

All requests will be addressed, but footage is only kept for 30 days. This may result in video images being overwritten before they can be processed.

To make a CCTV Subject Access Request please email cctv@towerhamlets.gov.uk and the relevant form will be sent to you.

If your Subject Access Request relates to civil claims and third-party requests, please see Obtaining camera images to assist with civil claims

Make a complaint

If you’d like to make a complaint about our public surveillance cameras, contact the CCTV manager by email at cctv@towerhamlets.gov.uk. We deal with all complaints in accordance with our complaints procedure.