Body Worn Video Policy

Background

The Newcastle University Estates & Facilities Security Team is committed to maximising its effectiveness in tackling anti-social behaviour, reducing crime and disorder and maintaining a safe, secure environment for colleagues, students and members of the public whilst on university property. In support of this strategy, Body Worn Video (BWV) technology is utilised by Security colleagues for operational purposes.

Aims

The introduction of BWV is to:

reduce crime and disorder
reduce anti-social behaviour
provide a safe and secure environment
reduce potential escalation of incidents
enhance opportunities for evidence capture

General principles

The general principles regarding BWV are as follow:

BWV will only be used when operationally necessary in support of the aims outlined above
Any use of BWV as an operational tool by frontline colleagues must be justifiable and proportionate to the issue
If BWV is used then careful consideration must be given to the use of a comprehensive strategy to comply with ‘fair processing’ of recorded information within the terms of the Data Protection Act 2018
The basic legal requirement is to comply with the GDPR, however the Estates & Facilities Security Team also considers their obligations in the wider legislative environment with relation to: Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998, Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 & Protection of Freedoms Act 2012- including Update to Surveillance Camera Code of Practice - GOV.UK
In order to maintain good practice, the Estate Security Service will use BWV as advised by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) Code of Practice for Surveillance Cameras & Personal Information 2014
Any use of BWV should be considered alongside prevailing interaction and impact on colleagues, students or members of the public that may be present
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that clearly demonstrate acceptable usage of BWV will be available to all users (frontline and management) at all levels of recording, data storage and data retrieval
Estates & Facilities Security Team colleagues are to comply with this policy document and SOPs when gathering evidence or information, ensuring the quality and integrity of that evidence or information
This policy document and associated SOPs must be followed at any incident where BWV is or has been used
Estates & Facilities Security Team has a BWV evidence management system. This system will ensure compliance of all relevant legislation and provide a full audit trail maintaining evidential continuity
Security colleagues will use the equipment in line with this policy document and SOPs. They will receive full instruction in its use and the relevant legislation
All colleagues will use the equipment in line with the Estates & Facilities Security Team risk assessment
All frontline Security colleagues will have full training from an identified administrator or lead before using BWV. These colleagues will receive their own copy of this policy document and SOPs and will confirm their receipt, reading and understanding of these documents after which, they will be authorised to use the equipment
BWV archived footage will not routinely be viewed for misdemeanours or unlawful acts committed by users, but if a complaint is received, interrogation of the system is an appropriate line of enquiry and may be instigated
All requests for reviews may only be actioned on the authority of the Head of Security or Assistant Security Manager
Estates & Facilities Security Team risk assessment will be produced to give guidance on the use of BWV and associated equipment. This must be used in conjunction with other generic risk assessments. All trained colleagues will use the equipment in line with published risk assessments
Estate Security Service Management will monitor the use of BWV to ensure the equipment is an appropriate tool and that its use is in line with this policy and procedures

Financial implications

All costs relating to the deployment and use of the BWV equipment will be the sole responsibility of the Estates & Facilities Security Team.

Review

This document is to be reviewed in the light of any legal and procedural changes to ensure that the use of BWV is appropriate to the Estates & Facilities Security Team aims.

Additionally, a biannual review will take place to update the Policy as/if required.