Unlike the fools at Pocklington Town Council and Market Weighton Town Council Driffield Town Council (DTC) are blessed to have in their midst a person that is not engulfed with ego. This has meant that they have progressed the lawfulness of their CCTV system by engaging with me.

Newly Erected Driffield CCTV Sign

Good News

I take my hat off to DTC Clerk Claire Binnington for thanking me for my assistance and providing a list of all 43 locations of the CCTV cameras.

Please see:

1. Strangeway – Vigilance and Tenacity
2. Driffield CCTV Camera Locations

Click on both links to read.

Bad News

Sadly there is bad news.

I believe that the system no longer meets Home Office guidance as it is a fundamental requirement that a CCTV system does not operate in areas of low crime and anti-social behaviour. There must be evidence of a significant level of crime. The law and regulations governing the use of CCTV have changed dramatically over the last few years and DTC must ensure that the CCTV system it operates fully complies with the law. This must include a robust and thorough review of the CCTV network. This assessment would need to be supported by data from Humberside Police.

Upon completion of an assessment if any cameras are being used in locations where there is little or no crime recorded they no longer meet the legal requirement for use as set out by the Home Office Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s compliance guidelines. If this is the case, all such cameras must be removed.

Civil liberties must always be respected, even by Big Brother.

I will give DTC 20 working days to provide the elusive assessment to me. If I do not receive the assessment I will have no option but to refer the case to the Surveillance Camera Commissioner.