Community Crime Prevention CCTV in Victoria A Guide to Developing CCTV in Victoria Presenter:Simon Walker Title:Senior Policy Officer Date:13 November 2012

Community Crime Prevention Aim & Guiding Principles  Aim: assist councils to address local safety issues  Informed by: VLRC’s Report into Surveillance in Public Places  VLRC’s 7 guiding principles: balance safety against the protection of privacy  Guide to be read in conjunction with:  Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner’s- Surveillance & Privacy Info Sheet  Victorian Ombudsman’s, Closed Circuit Television in Public Places Guidelines.

Community Crime Prevention Implementing & Evaluating CCTV Establish working group Assigning objectives Consultation Best CCTV system Responsible management Evaluation 7 steps for implementing & evaluating CCTV CCTV & your safety strategy

Community Crime Prevention Step 1. Establishing a Working Group Get advice from different perspectives:  Victoria Police  Researchers & crime prevention strategists  Finance officers  Urban planners  Traders  Local community groups (e.g. youth, seniors, indigenous or cultural groups).

Community Crime Prevention Step 2. CCTV & your Safety Strategy Conduct research:  Consider results of similar projects  Gather crime statistics on:  types of crime (e.g. property crime, theft from cars)  costs relative to the problem  when crime occurs  where crime occur  Make the decision to proceed

Community Crime Prevention Step 3. Assign clear objectives  Consider VLRC guiding principles  Set clear objectives to:  deter potential offenders  reduce fear of crime  help ensure an effective police response in emergency situations  assist in the detection and prosecution of offenders and  help secure a safer environment.  CCTV in combination with other strategies:  increased lighting  urban design  greater security.

Community Crime Prevention Step 4. Consult with people  Consult a representative selection of community  Methods of consultation may include:  public meetings  questionnaires & mail outs  website information.  Show evidence of planning  identify problems & objectives  estimates of cost  proposed placement  avenues for public enquiry.  posters  media  complaints processes  consult utility companies  evaluation processes  relationship - police & council

Community Crime Prevention Step 5. The best CCTV system  Finding a consultant:  ASIAL provides a free service to identify CCTV installation companies  Technical considerations:  pan, tilt and zoom capability  image quality (quality sufficient as evidence)  transmission of images  monitoring (control room location)  recording and image retrieval.  Consultant may also assist by advising on:  best location for cameras  financial considerations.

Community Crime Prevention Step 6. Management of CCTV systems  Data management is critical  Standard Operating Procedures:  Principles of management  Procedures  Personnel  Control room design  Code of Conduct:  Scope of responsibilities for staff  Principles for management of the system  Work procedures for staff.  Incident response  Privacy & disclosure  Management of recorded material  Documentation, licences and signage.

Community Crime Prevention Step 7. Evaluate your CCTV system  It is critical to ensure:  greater evidence base on effectiveness of CCTV  public accountability  public confidence in the use of CCTV.  Evaluation should consider:  objectives  outcomes  public confidence  project management  operations.

Community Crime Prevention Key Messages It is critical to consider the following:  public consultation  consultation with Victoria Police  evidence of need & objectives of the CCTV system  conscientious management & design  comprehensive evaluation  the sustainability of the system.

Community Crime Prevention Questions?