Richard Taylor

Martin Beaumont (City Council’s CCTV Manager),

CC: Independent Punter’s Campaign

I have recently had my attention drawn to the cameras in the bowling pavilion on Jesus Green. I am aware there are signs on the building, but believe that the way the cameras are mounted in holes in the wooden wall of the building, behind wire grills make them in my opinion essentially hidden cameras. As usual the area covered is not signed, and if the purpose of the cameras is to monitor the actions of independent punt operators I think that comes very close to, if not overstepping, the point of using the cameras to monitor individuals.

Using hidden cameras, and monitoring individuals in this way are contrary to the council’s code of practice on CCTV usage.

Richard Taylor
Cambridge

Update:

I am sorry Mr Taylor these are not my cameras and I do not know who owns them. We DO NOT deploy covert cameras.
Martin

Alastair Roberts (City Council Safer Communities Manager, and Green Spaces Manager),
Ian Nimmo-Smith (Executive Councillor responsible for CCTV*)

I have recently had my attention drawn to the CCTV cameras in the bowling pavilion on Jesus Green.

I am aware there are signs on the building, but believe that the way the cameras are mounted in holes in the wooden wall of the building, behind wire grills make them in my opinion essentially hidden cameras. As usual in Cambridge, the area covered by the cameras is not signed, and if the purpose of the cameras is to monitor the actions of independent punt operators I think that comes very close to, if not overstepping, the point of using the cameras to monitor individuals.

Using hidden cameras, monitoring individuals in this way and not signing the area covered are all contrary to the council’s code of practice on CCTV usage.

The City Council’s CCTV manager Martin Beaumont has told me they are not “his” cameras he does not know who owns them, stating “We DO NOT deploy covert cameras.”

If these are “your cameras” why is one section of the City Council deploying CCTV cameras in contravention of the City Council’s code of practice on CCTV usage, and why are all such cameras covering public spaces owned and operated by the City Council not under the control of the council’s CCTV manager.

Richard Taylor
Cambridge

*According to http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=5685007

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