Safer Streets 2 Basingstoke: CCTV consultation

Introduction: Safer Streets 2

Last year the Police and Crime Commissioner secured £275,179 from the government’s Safer Streets Fund. This was with 20% matched funding. This money is being invested in crime prevention measures in Basingstoke town centre. The area includes parts of the Eastrop and Grove ward, and part of the Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward.  The project has a challenging target completion date of 31 March 2022.

The project funds crime prevention measures and initiatives. These contribute to Basingstoke being a safer place to live work and visit. The project aims to reduce acquisitive crime. Work is in progress with a range of local partners to develop detailed delivery plans.

Some of the initiatives included within the project include:

• Providing more and improved street lighting to improve people’s feeling of safety.
• Increasing security for cycles and cycle parking, with funding for bike locks and bike marking events.
• Grounds maintenance work to open up enclosed areas where residents tell us they don’t feel safe.
• Increasing surveillance camera coverage in public places across the area.
• Improved security measures for garages within the Riverdene area.
• Providing free crime prevention packs to local residents across the area.

CCTV installation

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is considering the installation of more public spaces surveillance cameras. These would be in the Basingstoke town centre area and parts of Eastrop and Grove and Brookvale & Kings Furlong wards.

The new proposed cameras would be part of the existing public spaces surveillance camera network. Currently there are 12 surveillance cameras across public space areas in the Basingstoke town centre area. The proposed cameras will complement the existing network, providing increased coverage in the proposed areas. The Malls, Festival Place and some other privately owned areas also have their own closed circuit television (CCTV) systems.

The purpose of the new cameras will be for the prevention and detection of crime and antisocial behaviour.

The OPCC has completed a full assessment to analyse acquisitive crime trends (examples include, shoplifting, burglary, theft, and robbery) in the area. The proposed sites for new public space surveillance have been strategically identified because of historical and ongoing acquisitive crime in the areas. This assessment was produced alongside local partners, such as the police and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The proposed cameras will be monitored at a local CCTV control room 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.

The proposed locations for the new public space surveillance cameras are:

• Central car park
• Feathers Yard
• Castons Yard (extending and enhancing coverage of existing surveillance coverage)
• Joices Yard (extending and enhancing coverage of existing surveillance coverage)
• Glebe Gardens
• Church Street (extending and enhancing coverage of existing surveillance coverage)
• Alencon Link
• Eastrop Park car park.

As part of the proposed installation of new surveillance cameras, there is a full Data Protection Impact Assessment. This is in accordance of Principle 2 of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice. The Code states that the use of a surveillance camera system must take into account its effect on individuals and their privacy.

The design of the proposed CCTV system limits coverage so it does not cover areas outside its intended use. Part of this assessment has considered ‘privacy marking’, which reviews what CCTV systems can see. This is particularly important in areas where residential properties exist. We want to reassure you that the design takes into account camera positioning and masking of areas, like residential property. The system will be compliant with the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice requirements.