What this privacy notice covers
This privacy notice explains what information we collect when using body-worn video devices (BWVD), the reasons for their use and who we may share it with. This notice also details your rights to access this information.
The Council is 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 the council’s own BWV camera policy.
Why does Oxford City Council use BWVD?
The Council uses BWVD to:
- prevent or detect crime and anti-social behaviour
- identify offenders of crime and anti-social behaviour
- use as part of an investigation to take enforcement action in line with the regulatory areas we enforce (where necessary)
- support community safety and victim welfare in public space
- carry out functions in the public interest
- assist in the implementation of Crime and Disorder Strategies made under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
- promote the safety of council’s officers, to reduce the potential number of confrontational situations experienced by officers and to reduce the potential escalation of incidents
What personal data do we collect through the use of BWVD?
Personal data collected is likely to include images and audio recordings 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.
The lawful basis on which we use this information
Under data protection legislation, we are only allowed to collect personal information if we have a proper reason or legal basis to do so. Our legal basis for processing your personal data is that it is:
- necessary to meet a legal obligation
- necessary to perform tasks in the public interest
- necessary for the prevention, investigation detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security
What Council teams use BWVD?
BWVD may be used by the following Oxford City Council teams where it is necessary to perform tasks in the public interest such as the prevention and detection of crime and anti-social behaviour:
- Anti-Social Behaviour Investigation Team
- Community Response Team
- General Licensing Team
- Community Safety
- Residential Regulation Team
- Business l Regulation Team
- Tenancy Investigation Team
Who we share this information with?
Data captured by BWVD and deployable cameras may be shared internally with officers who need to review incidents that have occurred. We may also share with law enforcement agencies, regulatory agencies such as Adult and Children's Social Services, legal representatives and third parties where it is lawful to do so. This may include but not limited to:
- Thames Valley Police
- Oxfordshire County Council
- British Transport Police
- National Health Service
- Fire and Rescue Service
How do we keep your personal information secure?
We will maintain the reliability, accuracy, completeness and currency of personal data in our databases and to protect the privacy and security of our databases. We keep your personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
Our servers and databases are protected by industry-standard security technology including:
- encrypted device - meaning that information is hidden so that it cannot be read without unique password-protected systems (such as a password).
- access passwords to mitigate the risk of unauthorised use
- redacting footage including audio, video and or other documentation
- controlling access to systems and networks allows us to stop people who are not allowed to view your personal information from gaining access to it
- training our staff to make them aware of how to handle personal information and how and when to report when something goes wrong
How long is data kept for?
All data captured on BWVD will be stored for 30 days before automatic deletion.
Should images be needed for evidential purposes, they will be marked and retained in line with data protection retention periods.
Your rights and Access to your information
The Data Protection Act 2018 governs how we collect, store, process, and distribute personal data. This data management must comply with the legislation, regardless of whether the information is held digitally or on paper.
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to data correction, erasure, access and complaint about data processing. For more information about your rights, see the following links:
