Report CCTV in Public Places

For Community Safety Advisory Committee

December 2013

Council last considered CCTV in about 2003 - Oxford St Mall

At that time:• Westfield opening• Concern that the Mall would

become a ‘ghost strip’ subject to

Last Review of CCTV - 10 years ago

become a ‘ghost strip’ subject to vandalism and anti-social behaviour

Strategy adopted:• Beautify and enliven the Mall• Security Guard Friday/ Saturday

nights for a number of years.

Over the last 10 years:

• CCTV technology has advanced• Costs have declined• Some changes in public attitude

towards surveillance• Council is making use of CCTV to

Over the last 10 years

• Council is making use of CCTV to help protect key public assets

CCTV installed in:• Chambers, Customer Service

Centre, Library, Bondi Pavilion, Car Parks, Depots, Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre, Mill Hill Early Learning Centre, and Waverley Cemetery.

Revisit CCTV as a Safety Strategy

Waverley Council Operation Plan 2013-14

• Strategy: C5a Maintain safety in public areas such as streets, malls, parks and beaches; prioritise specific areas for safety and crime prevention programs; manage alcohol related issues and support vulnerable groupssupport vulnerable groups

• Deliverable: Investigate CCTV

• Actions: Investigate options to develop CCTV in key locations

• Measure: Report to Community Safety Advisory Committee

• Target: November 2013

Brief for Review

Brief for ReviewApproved CSAC in July 2013

• Review of the relevant laws• Review of the relevant laws• Review of research literature• Review of what other Councils are doing• Systems and costs• Review Waverley Crime stats

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP)

• Local Councils granted exemptions May 2013, that

The Law

exemptions May 2013, that enable them to install CCTV cameras in public places and disclose footage to the NSW Police

• PPIP Act does not apply to CCTV owned and operated by small business

Principles:• Public knowledge of

ownership• Community consultation• Clear objectives

Steps:• Identify crime problem• Conduct crime

assessment• Consult

NSW Attorney General’s Guidelines 2000

• Clear objectives• Integrated approach• Police involvement• Due regard for civil rights• Evaluation• Procedure for complaints

• Consult• Set objectives• Determine roles and

responsibilities of key players

• Develop a code of practice & operating procedures

• Install, trial, evaluate

Research Literature• Not a lot of good research

available• Prevention always hard to

prove

Review Research Literature

prove

What there is suggests that:• CCTV can be effective tool to

prevent crime• Best outcomes achieved when

part of a holistic approach• Best results in car parks

Other Councils• City of Sydney: 48 cameras

installed 1998/99 - George St, the Rocks, Hyde Park. Active monitoring 24/7. Allows direct transmission to Police

Other Councils• Parramatta: 25 cameras

covering CBD installation underway

What are other Councils doing?

• Sutherland - Cronulla Mall:11 cameras installed 2002 for anti-social behaviour and alcohol related offences. Active monitoring peak hours, pre-set tour other times

• Nowra: 18 cameras installed in CBD in 2009 for assault, alcohol offences, malicious damage and street crime -complaints about privacy/ legal action against Council

Costs include:• Installation -

systems and associated public works - eg putting in poles

What does it cost?

in poles• Operating-

monitoring & maintenance

• Planning and Governance

Installation

• Melbourne 1997 10 cameras $1,033,344

• Sutherland 2002 11 cameras $600,000

On-going costs

• Sydney: Monitored 24/7 $900,000 pa

• Fairfield: Monitored peak

What does it cost?

cameras $600,000

• Fairfield 1996 14 cameras $652,000

• Nowra 2009 18 cameras $90,000

• Fairfield: Monitored peak times $340,000 pa

Two types of CCTV:• Pro-active - monitored• Reactive – stored images

Cabling and transmissionFibre optic cables – requires cable

installation but high reliabilityWireless – No cables but

vulnerable to line of site issues,

The Technology

Solar powered remote camera developed in WA to monitor

cattle

vulnerable to line of site issues, may produce ‘hit and miss’ transmission

Internet Protocol (IP) systems –allows streaming across existing systems

Wireless options mean greater flexibility re installation – install/ move as needed

Crime in Waverley

10 top offences in Waverley 2012/13

Offence Number Rank

1 Fraud 647 7

2 Other theft 591 5

3 Steal from retail store 559 3

4 Malicious damage 556 88

5 Possession Cannabis 495 14

6 Assault not DVA 296 77

7 Liquor Offences 252 26

8 Steal from MV 238 95

9 Steal from dwelling 223 73

10 Break/ Enter 203 100

Other possible uses:• Protecting public open

space

Crime in Waverley

New Bronte Gully Terracing