Town centre management - CCTV
The provision of CCTV cameras in Luton forms an important part of our crime prevention, crime detection and community safety schemes.
- Provide a deterrent to crime and anti social behaviour
- Improve public safety by reducing the perceived fear of crime
- Assist emergency services when attending an incident
- Gather evidence for detection and prosecution of persons who may have been involved in a crime
- Support the management of public and commercial areas which are essential to commercial wellbeing of the community
- Assist in Council’s management of resources
The Town Centre CCTV and other cameras are located in the areas below:
- Luton Town Centre
- Bury Park
- High Town
- Hockwell Ring
- Purley Centre, Marsh Farm
- St Dominic's Square, Lewsey Farm
- Farley Hill - Market Square
- Wardown Park Museum
The CCTV scheme is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is managed by Public Protection, Neighbourhood Services. The system comprises of over 195 CCTV cameras, monitored by a team of up to 9 operators.
Live images can be transmitted to the police controllers at Kempston headquarters to allow the police to monitor and manage incidents when necessary. The CCTV centre and police communicate via a dedicated telephone link and police airwaves radio.
The CCTV images are recorded onto a digital recording system for no longer than 31 days. Retention may vary dependant on site specific capacities.
The CCTV Operators have monitored a range of incidents, which have included: public disorder, vehicle crime, criminal damage, missing and wanted persons. The CCTV scheme has been commended for its help in identifying several persons involved in a murder case in 2001 and a major drugs investigation in 2003. The most notable incident to date was the death of a Police Officer in 2007.
To date the scheme has been involved in over 16000 arrests with over 37,000 incidents successfully recorded by the cameras. The CCTV scheme is continually monitored for its quality and performance.
Surveillance of the CCTV is governed by a Code of Practice which is agreed and followed by all parties involved and is strictly regulated in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and Freedom of Information Act. The CCTV Control Centre is a restricted area and there is no right of access to the Public. Legislative complaisance can prevent the release of some recordings into the public domain.