Closed Circuit Television Management - Institutional Operating Policy
Responsible officer: Vice-Chancellor
Designated officer: Director, Capital Programs and Operations
Approving authority: Vice-Chancellor
Approval: VC, 5 September 2007
Last amended:
Effective starting date: 6 September 2007
Policies replaced by this policy:
Policy number: O1
Related documents:
Policy
The University of the Sunshine Coast is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment across its Campuses and Learning Centres. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) may be installed overtly at identified public locations as a strategic component of this commitment to community safety and crime prevention.
Aim
The aim of the USC CCTV program is to:
- provide an effective means by which to prevent and reduce crime in the monitored areas through an increased fear of detection and the apprehension of offenders
- enhance the public’s general feeling of safety and security in regard to the areas being monitored
- protect the University assets, and
- assist in the factual, accurate and speedy reconstruction of the circumstances of incidents
Principles
The University of the Sunshine Coast recognises that the capture of information via CCTV falls under the definition of Personal Information in the The University of the Sunshine Coast Privacy Plan. The Privacy Plan has been developed to comply with the Queensland Government Information Standard 42 - Information Privacy (IS42), known as Queensland Privacy, which is based on the eleven Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988. Information standards are issued under the authority of ss. 22(2) and 56(1) of the Financial Management Standard 1997 and apply to the University of the Sunshine Coast as a public authority defined under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977.
The University of the Sunshine Coast recognises the Queensland Government CCTV Guidelines.
The systems must also comply with Australian Standard 4806.1 – Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Management and Operation – Code of Practice. Australian Standard 4806.2 – Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Application Guidelines.
The CCTV system must strike an appropriate balance between the personal privacy of individuals using the campus and the objective of recording incidents.
The system will be operated fairly, within applicable law, and only for the purposes to which it is established.
Code of Practice
Signage
The presence of CCTV on campus will be brought to the notice of the University community and the public by prominent and appropriate signage.
Access to monitors, control room, and monitoring equipment
Monitors may be used in public display areas for notification that the area is under CCTV surveillance and as a deterrent. Unless specifically designed for the foregoing purposes, access to monitors will be restricted to persons authorised to view those images.
All CCTV recording equipment will be located within secure areas and not accessible to unauthorised personnel.
Access to the Security Control Room will be restricted to authorised persons.
Recording and storage of information
CCTV images recorded at USC are stored digitally. All recorded material will be treated as confidential and unless required for evidence, will be kept in accordance with Sections 1.3.59 and 1.3.60 of the Retention and Disposal Schedule for Administrative Records. They will then be automatically recorded over or saved images will be deleted with the approval of the Manager Operations, Capital Programs who will advise the Operations Manager, Records Management Services.
Access to the CCTV System and to the captured images will be restricted to authorised staff involved in monitoring or investigation.
Images taken from the CCTV system will be fully documented in a register and securely stored. The images will be handled in accordance with the University Privacy Plan and Records Management Policy.
The recording, storage, and disposal of images will be subjected to audit as a record of the University by the University Privacy Coordinator.
Liaison with Queensland Police Service
Images may be released to the Queensland Police Service or other law enforcement agencies in compliance with the Queensland Government Information Standard 42 - Information Privacy (IS42). All requests made by the Queensland Police Service or other law enforcement agencies should be referred to the Capital Programs and Operations, Operations Manager who will advise the University Privacy Coordinator of the request.
Complaints
The University Privacy Coordinator must ensure that an effective complaints mechanism is implemented so that staff, students and members of the public can be assured that privacy complaints, investigations and subsequent outcomes will be dealt with appropriately.
Responsibility
The Operations Manager, Capital Programs and Operations is responsible for the management of the University's CCTV system. This includes the maintenance and operation of the system as well as the protection of the privacy interests of individual members of the University community and the public from intrusive monitoring.
The Operations Manager will ensure that all Security Officers involved in the recording, observation and capture of images are informed, through training or through other means, of their responsibility to act in an ethical and lawful manner as per the relevant legislation.
If evidence is provided that an individual or individuals are using the system inappropriately, the University will take appropriate measures to eliminate or minimise the risk of reoccurrence. Inappropriate use of the CCTV system will be considered a breach of the Code of Conduct and will be handled accordingly.
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