Privacy notice body worn video (BWV)

Our body worn video (BWV) privacy notice explains how we use your personal information and tells you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you. It also tells you how we collect information about you in order to provide you with a community safety service.

A number of our officers operate BVW cameras. Our BWV cameras process video images and audio data of members of the public generally and particularly people who come into contact with our officers.

Information we collect

We process data to include images and audio recording as well as sensitive personal data relating to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, health, sexual orientation, and criminal offences and convictions to the extent that this data is visible in the images or audio recorded by our BWV cameras. We process this data in the substantial public interest.

How we collect this information

BWV cameras are used by a range of frontline council teams and departments. This will include but is not limited to our Private Sector Housing Team, Environmental Health, Housing, Neighbourhood Services, Anti-Social Behaviour Team, Community Protection Officers and Licensing Officers.

What we do with your information

The BWV footage is used to promote the safety of council officers, to reduce the potential number of confrontational situations experienced by officers, to reduce the potential escalation of incidents and to augment the opportunities for evidence capture.  We have a responsibility to prevent crime and disorder in its area.

We are committed to compliance with the Information Commissioner's Office's data protection code of practice for surveillance cameras and personal data, the Home Office's surveillance camera code of practice and our own BWV camera operational guidance.

Who we might share your information with

BWV footage may be shared with law enforcement agencies, prosecution agencies, legal representatives and third parties where it is lawful to do so.

How long your data will be kept

All BWV footage uploads automatically to secure cloud-based storage and is retained for 30 days after which it auto-deletes.

Footage required for evidential purposes needs to be marked as 'evidential' which then overrides the 30 day auto-deletion process but will be deleted once it is no longer required (ie. at the point our investigations have concluded, or potentially when a matter has been to court).

Your rights

You have the right to access your personal data and to complain if you think your data is being used incorrectly. You may also have other rights, such as to have your data corrected or erased. For full details on your personal data rights, Data Controller and Data Protection Officer's contact details and further information, please see the main privacy policy.