Guidance

Update to Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

An updated code was laid before Parliament on 16 November 2021 and came into effect on 12 January 2022.

• From: Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
• Published: 22 November 2021
• Last updated: 3 March 2022 — See all updates

Documents

Amended Surveillance Camera Code of Practice (accessible version)

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Amended Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2983-6, E02688418

Unnumbered act paper

PDF, 171 KB, 24 pages

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Surveillance Camera Code – summary of consultation responses (accessible version)

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Surveillance Camera Code – summary of consultation responses

PDF, 104 KB, 2 pages

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Explanatory memorandum to the Surveillance Code of Practice (accessible version)

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Explanatory memorandum to the Surveillance Code of Practice

PDF, 240 KB, 4 pages

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Code of Practice: guide to the 12 principles

PDF, 104 KB, 4 pages

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Code of Practice: steps to compliance

PDF, 302 KB, 3 pages

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Surveillance Camera Code of Practice - Welsh version

PDF, 276 KB, 20 pages

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Details

An updated Surveillance Camera Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 16 November 2021 pursuant to Section 31(3) of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Due to receiving parliamentary approval, the updated code came into effect on 12 January 2022.

The government is committed to empowering the police to use technologies like biometrics and surveillance cameras to protect the public while maintaining their trust.

Simplifying and updating the code is important in this context because the code provides guidance on the appropriate use of surveillance camera systems by local authorities and the police.

We have updated references to subsequent legislation, in particular the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Court of Appeal judgment on live facial recognition in Bridges v South Wales Police.

We have also shortened the text to make it easier for users to follow. The updated code does not place any additional burden on users.

Before laying the code before Parliament the Home Office conducted a statutory consultation. Details of the consultation and responses are in the accompanying document.

Published 22 November 2021
Last updated 3 March 2022 + show all updates

1. 3 March 2022

   Added the Welsh translation of the updated Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

2. 11 February 2022

   The updated code came into effect on 12 January 2022. Pre-existing guidance to compliance with the code has been added for ease of access.

3. 10 February 2022

   Page reassigned from the Home Office to the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

4. 1 December 2021

   Updated explanatory memorandum. This explanatory memorandum replaces the previous version laid before Parliament on 16 November 2021, which has been withdrawn.

5. 29 November 2021

   Accessible HTML versions of 'Amended Surveillance Camera Code of Practice', 'Surveillance Camera Code – summary of consultation responses' and 'Explanatory memorandum to the Surveillance Code of Practice' added.

6. 22 November 2021

   First published.