One year on from the launch of his self assessment tool Tony Porter, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England and Wales, has launched a third party certification scheme. One of the very early adopters, the London borough of Enfield, featured in the November 2015 print issue of Professional Security.
Pictured at Enfield’s Public Safety Centre are Yasemin Brett, Enfield Cabinet Member for Community Organisations and Culture; Tony Porter; and Alan Gardner, the centre manager.
Certification is described by the Commissioner’s office as simple, accessible and affordable. It enables organisations to show that they comply with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and for relevant authorities it’s essential that they can evidence they have shown due regard to the code; certification enables them to do this. There are two steps to certification. The first step – desktop certification – is aimed at organisations that are working hard to achieve full compliance with the code but are aware that they may need more time to become fully compliant. The second step – full certification – is for organisations that are close to or fully compliant with the code; it involves a visit and audit from a certification body.
Two UKAS-accredited certification bodies are qualified to audit against the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice – the SSAIB and NSI; Enfield went through the SSAIB. Successful organisations will receive a certificate and be able to display the Commissioner’s certification mark on their website and other publicity material.
Tony Porter said: “Certification enables organisations to demonstrate to communities that they use their CCTV systems transparently, effectively and proportionately. It shows they comply with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and indicates they follow best practice. I’m determined to raise standards across the industry and following on from self assessment my third party certification scheme aims to do just that.”
