ACT Public Safety Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Network Annual Report 2021-22

Minister's Foreword

I am pleased to present the Public Safety CCTV Network Annual Report 2021-22 in accordance with the ACT Government’s Strategic Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Plan 2020-2022 (the CCTV Plan).

This Annual Report supports the ACT Government’s commitment to provide enhanced reporting on the Public Safety CCTV Network activities and achievements against the CCTV Plan.

The Public Safety CCTV Network remains an important part of the ACT Government’s focus on ensuring Canberra remains a safe and secure city for all residents. Data on the utilisation of the Public Safety CCTV Network in this report indicates that it remains effective tool to support ACT Policing to deter, investigate and prosecute crime in public open spaces and large venues.

In June 2022, I was pleased to release the new ACT Government Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy. The CCTV Policy sets clear whole-of-government requirements for the governance, installation and operation of CCTV systems across government. The CCTV Policy also sets out the legislative requirements and privacy protections for how this information should be handled under our strong ACT human rights framework. Public sector agencies will continue to implement the CCTV Policy in 2022-23.

In 2023, I look forward to further enhancing the strategic direction for the Public Safety CCTV Network to ensure it continues to support community safety, crime prevention and investigation and privacy.

Further information about the Public Safety CCTV Network is available on the JACS website here.

Shane Rattenbury MLA

Attorney-General

Public Safety CCTV Network Utilisation

In 2001, the ACT Government established the Public Safety CCTV Network (CCTV Network). The CCTV Network is managed by the JACS Security and Emergency Management Division (SEMD) and consists of approximately 100 cameras across multiple public open spaces and venues across the ACT.

Data on CCTV network utilisation is maintained by the Transport Canberra and City Services directorate and ACT Policing. Table A illustrates how the technology consistently  supports policing activities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to dispatch police resources to respond to incidents observed during CCTV monitoring. In the reporting period, there was a significant increase in the use of CCTV footage for criminal investigation or prosecution, which may reflect the sustained protest activity during 2021-22 in public spaces across the ACT.

_{Table A. CCTV Network Utilisation}

Criminal offending in Glebe Park – Effectiveness of the Public Safety CCTV Network

In response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts 5/2021 - Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Report No. 5 of 2021: Management of Closed-Circuit Television Systems, the ACT Government agreed to collect data on criminal offences in Glebe Park to report on the effectiveness of the CCTV Network in increasing public safety in the park.

The expansion of the CCTV Network to Glebe Park was commissioned in July 2021. Data provided by ACT Policing (Table B) indicates that there was a decline in the number of offences in the reporting period, with 12 offences recorded in Glebe Park compared to 17 offences in 2020-21. However, reporting over future years will confirm whether there is a sustained trend in reduced offending at Glebe Park.

_{Table B. Recorded offences in Glebe Park}

Policy and Governance

In June 2022, the ACT Government released the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (CCTV Policy) to enhance accountability and support safer spaces and events across the ACT. The CCTV Policy replaced the 2009 Code of Practice for CCTV and establishes whole-of-government requirements for the governance, installation and operation of CCTV systems. It sets out the legislative requirements and privacy protections for how this information should be handled under our strong ACT human rights framework.

The CCTV Policy applies to all ACT Government directorates and authorities that operate CCTV systems. It sets out the legislative requirements and privacy protections for how this information should be handled under the ACT’s human rights framework. Implementation of the CCTV Policy will occur through 2022-23 and will be monitored by the Protective Security Working Group (PSWG).

The CCTV Policy addresses recommendations from both the Auditor-General’s Report on the Management of CCTV Systems and the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts Inquiry into the Auditor-General’s Report.

Public Safety CCTV Network Access – Roles and Responsibilities

In November 2021, JACS SEMD finalised a revised CCTV Roles and Responsibilities Standard Operating Procedure. This document identifies the roles provided with access to the Public Safety CCTV Network and the responsibilities and accountabilities of staff members.

Installations and Upgrades

The installation of eight new CCTV cameras was completed in Glebe Park, Canberra City during the reporting period. The 2018-19 ACT Government budget provided $475,000 towards CCTV upgrades and $190,000 was funded for this expansion. These cameras form part of the Public Safety CCTV Network and are accessible to ACT Policing.

Trials

Portable solar powered cameras continue to be utilised by the Public Safety CCTV Network for temporary CCTV installations where required, including for large events in the Territory such as Floriade in 2022.

Removals or Decommissions

No CCTV removals or decommissions undertaken by JACS in the reporting period.

Significant Public Safety CCTV Network Faults or Outages

No significant faults or outages were recorded in the reporting period.

Complaints against the CCTV Network

No complaints against the Public Safety CCTV Network were received by JACS in the reporting period.

Scrutiny of the Public Safety CCTV Network

ACT Auditor-General’s Report 5/2021: Management of Closed-Circuit Television Systems – Government Response tabled 9 November 2021

The ACT Government Response to the Auditor-General’s Report 5/2021 can be found here. Progress in implementing recommendations from this report can be found in the JACS 2021-22 Annual Report.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts 5/2021 - Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Report No. 5 of 2021: Management of Closed-Circuit Television Systems – Government Response tabled 9 June 2022

The ACT Government Response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts 5/2021 can be found here. Progress in implementing recommendations from this report can be found in the JACS 2021-22 Annual Report.

Progress against the CCTV Strategic Plan 2020-22

In 2021-22, JACS continued to progress activities in the CCTV Strategic Plan 2020-22. Four activities were completed in the reporting period. Five activities have commenced, and one is yet to commence due to capacity constraints.