A working group is proposing to upgrade and integrate public space CCTV in Edinburgh, covered by a ‘city-wide operation centre’ on council property, and IP equipment. A proposed £1m spend is to make the council’s local government CCTV ‘fit for purpose’. The City of Edinburgh Council runs a CCTV system covering its buildings, besides public spaces, housing blocks, schools and bus lanes; at a cost of £955,000 a year. The main ‘customer’ is Police Scotland, that uses evidence for investigations and prosecutions. Last year the Scottish-based installer Boston Networks was commissioned to review the council’s CCTV estate.
The company found that, in the words of a recent report to the council’s culture and communities committee by Harry Robertson, Acting Head, Safer and Stronger Communities, ‘significant investment is required across the estate to establish an effective and efficient service. The current analogue systems have surpassed the end of their serviceable life expectancy.’ The review was also with an eye to change in the UK law on data protection, under the EU-wide General Data Protection Regulation, due to come into force in May.
