CCTV and Body Worn Video

We operate and manage Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. 

Our CCTV system is designed to:

• promote community safety by protecting people and property
• assist with the prevention and detection of crime
• help to act upon threats or instances of criminal and anti-social behaviour
• ensure public safety and better services (such as traffic management and alarms)

CCTV locations

The majority of our CCTV cameras are installed across the City Centre to help monitor public spaces and highways. 

We have other types of cameras in operation:

• bus lane enforcement cameras and automatic number plate recognition cameras to help traffic management (these do not record footage)
• Urban Traffic Control cameras which monitor and control the flow of traffic (these do not record footage)
• security cameras in and around council properties (commercial and residential)
• body worn cameras used to support our frontline enforcement officers

Where CCTV is in operation, we have signs to let you know. These signs also explain who to contact if you have a query or concern about its use.

Covert surveillance can occur in particular circumstances but only with the approval from a Magistrate.

CCTV footage

Our City Centre CCTV is operated by Council staff who monitor for live incidents taking place, for example road traffic collisions or public disorder, to assist the police or traffic management staff in real-time.

There are exceptions to this rule, for example footage copied for (a) enforcement or legal proceedings may be kept as evidence for up to 7 years, (b) complaints or requests for information may be held for up to 2 years.

Body Worn Video footage

Body worn cameras are used by some front line staff who carry out enforcement roles, such as by Civil Enforcement Officers within our Parking Services Department (Parking Wardens), and only activated where they believe they are under threat or are facing threatening behaviour.

These cameras will record conversations between members of the public and Council staff where considered appropriate. Where a Council officer intends to record a conversation with a member of the public, the member of the public will be informed verbally at the time.

All body worn cameras will be overt and clearly visible.

Our Body Worn Video Devices Policy and Privacy Impact Assessment provide more details.

Disclosing CCTV footage

CCTV and Body Worn Video footage can be disclosed to (subject to exceptions):

Individuals requesting footage of themselves or on behalf of someone else with the appropriate consent or authority.

These requests are covered under the 'Subject access request procedure'. However, sometimes there may be legal reasons that prevent us from disclosing, such as if it contains footage of a third party

The Police or other law-enforcement agencies involved in the prevention or detection of crime and/or apprehension of an offender.

These requests are covered under the 'Access to personal information procedure'

Insurance companies or anyone else involved in legal proceedings.

These requests are covered under the 'Access to personal information procedure.'

Individuals requesting footage that does not contain personal data.

These requests are covered under the Freedom of Information procedure.

CCTV ooerators are not allowed to disclose images of identifiable people to the media, or to put them on the internet, for entertainment.

Images released to the media to help identify a person are disclosed by the police.

Copyright

All recordings and copies of recordings including images saved by ourselves remain the copyright of Sheffield City Council.

Any footage released is for reference only and should not be placed on any social media, website, or any other medium of publication.