Government revises plans for proposed CCTV regulations
The government has acted on recommendations from the Association of Convenience Stores to stop the introduction of regulations for retailers using CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition.
A consultation in March 2010, which looked at introducing a regulatory code of practice, initially proposed to reduce the level of state surveillance under the Protection of Freedoms Act. However the ACS pointed out that a voluntary code of practice would be more effective and would stop unnecessary red tape for retailers who use video technology to protect their business and staff.
In its response to the consultation, the government also stated that the Information Commissioner’s Office would be a key partner in issues around the storage of data from CCTV and ANPR to provide greater transparency to the public.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Local shops welcome the government’s decision to pursue a voluntary code of practice for CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Retailers are already caught up in a mass of red tape and to introduce unnecessary regulations on their security measures would have been counter-productive. CCTV equipment has a clear role in local shops to protect the business, retail staff and the public.”
The ACS said it would be working closely with the government on the upcoming voluntary code of practice to ensure that the interests of local shops were fully understood.
