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FINDINGS OF PUBLIC SPACE CCTV REVIEW
Version 2.3

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Executive Summary
This report presents the findings of a National Review of Public Space CCTV
in Scotland. With the inception of Police Scotland the Chief Constable
commissioned a short term review of Public Space CCTV in Scotland to
accurately capture the relationship between the 8 legacy Forces and 32 Local
Authorities in respect of;
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funding arrangements
management and governance
information sharing including image capture and storage
sustainability
future development and coordination

Public Space CCTV has been identified as high risk on the Police Scotland
Risk Register.
CCTV has developed as a Community Safety tool to offer far more than
simply the prevention and detection of crime. It provides public reassurance,
protects the most vulnerable members of the community and “keeps people
safe”. CCTV contributes towards the Police and Local Authorities meeting
National outcomes in particular outcomes 9, 11 and 151, ensuring that
members of the community live their lives free from crime, disorder and
danger. It also supports Local objectives around tackling antisocial behaviour,
violence and drug / alcohol related incidents. It is a critical tool in Scotland’s
infrastructure used to counter Terrorism. Video links to the police control
facilities assist with the effective deployment of resources, ensuring both
police officer and public safety at all times. The review comprised eight
elements:
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Detailed questionnaire completed jointly by the Police and Local
Authorities
Visits and consultation with 14 Divisional Commanders
Visits and consultation with 32 Local Authority Chief Executives or their
identified representatives
Consultation with Scottish Government and the Scottish Community
Safety Network representatives
Consultation with Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
and Police Scotland Digital Forensics Unit
National Public Space CCTV Steering Group used as a reference
Group
Feedback obtained from Public Space CCTV Practitioners Groups

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Outcome 9 We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
Outcome 11 We have strong resilient and supportive communities where people take
responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
Outcome 15 Our public services are high quality, continually improving efficient and
responsive to local people’s needs.

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

Benchmarking of best practice throughout Scotland

Detailed Questionnaire
The questionnaire was sent to all 32 Local Authority areas and was completed
in conjunction with Local Authority Liaison Officers. The responses varied
with regards to the level of completion, with Edinburgh City Council being the
only Local Authority to decline to provide funding information.
Management & Governance
The management and governance of Public Space CCTV has evolved in an
incongruent fashion throughout Scotland over the last 25 years to suit local
needs and relationships between 32 Local Authorities and 8 legacy Police
Forces. As a result there is negligible strategic leadership in this arena, to the
detriment of Public Space CCTV in respect of governance, capital and
revenue purchasing power through economies of scale and the ability to
positively respond and embrace developing technologies through improved
partnership service delivery models on a National basis.
The review provides that a single statutory governance structure is the key to
positively address these issues.
Funding (Police and Local Authority)
The funding models throughout the country are disparate and lack strategic
direction. In relation to Capital funding there has been no significant Capital
spend in recent years and no future capital spend identified for the next five
years other than two significant spends this year (2013/14) covering 18% of
the Public Space CCTV systems in Scotland. Glasgow Community & Safety
Services has obtained £17 million from Central Government to fully digitalise
their systems prior to the Commonwealth Games. Renfrewshire Council is
about to invest £1.3 million in a Community Safety Hub which will subsume
the local Public CCTV trust who are in financial difficulties.
The revenue funding support for Public Space CCTV from the 8 legacy Force
areas varied substantially from no funding in legacy Lothian and Borders
Police area to fully funded in legacy Grampian Police area. The other Force
areas provided a partial contribution either in a grant format towards
maintenance costs or employing and paying for the salaries for monitoring
staff. The current total commitment for Police Scotland is approximately £3
million.
Sustainability
The Public Space CCTV infrastructure is ageing with no significant capital
spends in recent years. 85% of the matrices which control the camera
systems are analogue which is no longer supported as advances in
technology have moved to digitalised systems. This is a high risk as should a
matrix fail all the cameras linked to the matrix would be inoperable. Spare
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parts are now second hand and charged at a premium as demand outstrips
supply.
The estimated capital spend to upgrade these systems is
approximately £3.8 million.
80% of cameras are analogue and are still able to be connected to a digital
system using a coder and decoder. The estimated cost to convert the number
of outstanding analogue cameras to digital cameras is approximately £5.75
million.
It is clear that there requires to be a significant capital spend within the
infrastructure of Public Space CCTV to ensure that the systems are capable
of delivering a quality service that the public expects and demands.
Partnership Data Sharing (including image capture and storage)
Currently images from Public Space CCTV required for the Court process are
burned to discs and then are involved in different process throughout the
Country to ensure that the format is playable within the Court system. The
desire from COPFS is to have the images along with the case so that this
information can be disclosed to the defence to obtain early pleas and achieve
savings for a number of partner agencies. I6 would appear to be a vehicle to
achieve the desired result but is still a number of years away. In the interim
there is the possibility to pilot a reviewing station within one of the Court
buildings to ingather data of the benefits and cost saving that could be made
by Police Scotland by transferring the information electronically and not using
discs and the inefficiencies surrounding that.
Future Development and Coordination
It is clear that the estimated current revenue spend for Public Space CCTV in
Scotland of approximately £11 million does not provide best value for the
public purse. There is a clear lack of strategic leadership and accountability
for delivering a fully co-ordinated service with a minimum standard in relation
to specification of equipment, performance measures, policy and procedures
and to compliance with current legislation and guidance. Public Space CCTV
requires to be represented as a national single body at the development of the
Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) in order to be included in the building of
the National digital public services communication platform.
A number of Police Scotland Divisions have purchased a small number of
body worn camera devices to be issued to Police Officers and a corporate
approach for the service in respect of policy and operating procedures
requires to be addressed.
Recommendations
 For the purpose of future development the definition of Public Space
CCTV should be widened to incorporate all aspects of Public Space
CCTV facilities funded in the public domain, through both Police
Scotland and Local Authorities.
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 Restructuring of Contact Command and Control C3 project has to
consider the current situation with video links and what would be
required in the future.
 Statutory Responsibility for the Operation and Maintenance of Public
Space CCTV in Scotland is allocated to a Public Body.
 Current Police Scotland projects looking at rationalisation of opening
hours (Public Counter Service Review) and rationalisation of Police
Offices are aware of implications in relation to monitoring and housing
of CCTV facilities.
 All analogue matrices are upgraded to an agreed digital specification
within the next five years when the current contract with their suppliers
expires.
 Once preferred bidder is identified for SWAN project early negotiations
are required to elicit possible benefits for Public Space CCTV
throughout Scotland utilising this system.
 Police Scotland provides direction on the corporate approach to the
capital purchase of body worn cameras and associated revenue costs
which requires to be supported by a relevant Standard Operating
Procedure and Training provision.
 A project is established to implement the electronic transfer of Public
Space CCTV images to Court utilising i6 and Project Core.
Collaboration is required between Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
Service (COPFS), Scottish Court Service, Police Scotland and Public
Space CCTV Operatives.
 A pilot project is established in an identified Court location in Scotland
to provide a viewing suite for the Procurator and defence agents and
thereafter if required as evidence within the court is transmitted to a
plasma screen. This would allow empirical data to be obtained of the
benefits of CCTV footage in the legal system in relation to cost savings.
 An internal review of the role of the Technical Support Unit and the
Digital Forensics Unit to be carried out to identify best practice and
develop a corporate model for Police Scotland.

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DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SPACE CCTV
The remit of this review was to look at Public Space Close Circuit
Television which are those systems utilised on the public streets across
Scotland and include fixed sites, rapid deployable, CCTV vehicles and
body worn cameras. They are the systems with which Police Scotland
has closest involvement in respect of day to day business. There are
other large CCTV systems owned and managed by housing
associations, NHS Scotland, British Transport Police, other transport
authorities, schools etc, which in simple camera numbers exceed the
Public Space cameras considerably and it is acknowledged that the
Police make use of footage from these systems as and when the
situation dictates, but they are out with the scope of this review, although
the majority of these systems still fall under the control of Local
Authorities in respect of governance and funding.
Recommendation 1:
For the purpose of future development
the definition of Public Space CCTV should be widened to
incorporate all aspects of Public Space CCTV facilities funded in
the public domain, through both Police Scotland and Local
Authorities.

HISTORY OF PUBLIC SPACE CCTV
CCTV started to appear in the late 80’s and was seen as a tool to deter
and detect crime within private space commercial premises. After the
high profile murder of Jamie Bulger in 1993 where images captured on
the shopping centre CCTV were utilised and led to the identification and
conviction of the persons responsible, there was a drive for Public Space
CCTV.
The growth of Public Space CCTV in Scotland was funded through
independent capital projects both from Westminster and Scottish
Government predominantly in the early 1990’s to 2005. From inception,
this has encouraged the systems to grow independently both in
procedural and technical aspects, thus causing disparity across the
variant systems in Scotland. This non strategic development saw funding
streams made available without any defined response strategies,
outcomes/deliverables or evaluation measures.
This saw the development of a varied landscape of Public Space CCTV
in Scotland. It has been difficult to obtain an accurate picture as to the
constitution and legal standing of all the groups within the Local Authority
areas. These are known to include trusts, limited companies with
charitable status, Police owned, Local Authority owned with no Police
Involvement, Local Authority owned and managed in police premises
and Local Authority and Police in partnership together.

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In 2001 the Westminster Government introduced the Security Industry
Authority to regulate the Independent Security Companies within the
United Kingdom. This was seen as a regulatory method to encourage
standards in both training and certifications for employees responsible
for CCTV from operator through to manager levels. The initial intent was
to have Public Space CCTV managed under this platform but most trusts
were unable to support the scheme due to a lack of revenue monies and
the Local Authorities took over the failing trusts.
It is clear that there is strong public support for Public Space CCTV with
81% of the public in Scotland agreeing that there is the right amount/ too
few cameras monitoring public areas. 89% disagreed with the removal
of Public Space CCTV to meet budget cuts and 76% disagree that
monitoring should be restricted to meet budget cuts.2
CCTV has developed as a Community Safety tool to offer far more than
simply the prevention and detection of crime. It provides the public
reassurance, protects the most vulnerable members of the community
and “keeps people safe”. CCTV can provide the eyes of the community
to inform activity for the Police and Local Authorities to meet the National
outcomes in particular outcomes 9, 11 and 153 to ensure that members
of the community live their lives free from crime, disorder and danger and
Local objectives of tackling antisocial behaviour, violence and
drug/alcohol related incidents. It is a critical tool in the infrastructure of
Scotland in relation to counter terrorism measures. Established video
links to the Police assist them with the deployment of resources
effectively, ensure officer and public safety at all times.
Recommendation 2:
Restructuring of Contact Command and
Control C3 project has to consider the current situation with video
links and what would be required in the future.
FUNDING, MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE
Clearly identify Capital and Revenue expenditure for Public Space CCTV
including fixed site, mobile, deployable, body worn, monitoring facilities,
review facilities, data sharing arrangements and related staffing costs.
To include full details of existing contractual agreements, including
equipment maintenance and vehicle lease arrangements 4

2

An Independent Public Opinion Survey on the Use of CCTV in Public Areas by RNS
Research International.
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Outcome 9 We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
Outcome 11 We have strong resilient and supportive communities where people take
responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
Outcome 15 Our public services are high quality, continually improving efficient and
responsive to local people’s needs.
4
Police Scotland Public Space CCTV Review, Terms of Reference - Funding
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Identify the differences in operational management and governance
models that currently exist throughout Police Scotland and the 32 Local
Authorities.5
Public Space CCTV funding and governance structures in Scotland have
evolved in a disparate fashion over the years to suit local needs and the
relationship between the 8 legacy Forces and 32 Local Authorities.
An important point to note is that there is currently no statutory
responsibility on any public body to operate and maintain Public Space
CCTV in Scotland. In the main that responsibility has evolved to sit with
Local Authorities, either directly or through a partnership or arms length
company structure.
In recent years Public Space CCTV has been subject of a number of
Scottish Government reviews6 one in particular resulted in the 2011
implementation of the current National Strategy for Public Space CCTV
in Scotland. The stated purpose of the national strategy is to provide
advice, guidance and assistance to local partners on the development of
their Public Space CCTV systems and encourages the use of an
evaluation tool to achieve best value from current and future CCTV
deployments. The strategy also encourages the use of shared services
and recognises the cost savings to be achieved through co-location of
multi skilled staff and services.
Under the current structure within Scotland the majority of CCTV
organisations are a partnership group, which are not formally constituted.
This poses a significant risk in moving forward to identify both capital and
revenue budgets. None of these organisations can procure equipment
without utilising the services of the Local Authority or the Police.
Procurement has always taken place in isolation.
What has to be recognised is that the funding, no matter which
organisation provides, it will come from the public purse and the current
set up is clearly not effective or efficient and does not provide best value.
Whilst the strategy has been in place for two years the implementation
has been piece meal throughout the Country. The lack of a Statutory
Body with a clear strategic vision to drive the implementation has been a
barrier.
CURRENT STRUCTURES WITHIN SCOTLAND
Having reviewed the setup throughout Scotland it has been established
that CCTV falls broadly into the following categories.

5

Police Scotland Public Space CCTV Review, Terms of Reference – Management &
Governance
6
Strategic Report on Improving the Efficiency & Effectiveness of Public Space CCTV in
Scotland – Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services, November 2009
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a)
There is one trust remaining that has observer support from the
Police and Local Authority but has had to find funding from local
businesses and apply for grants from various sources. It is currently
struggling financially to deliver the service from all the cameras. The
cameras are monitored within the Local Police Office on an ad hoc basis.
b)
There are two where the Police own and manage the system
with little or no involvement from the Local Authority.
c)
There are eight where the Local Authority owns the system and
it is recorded in Police Offices/Local Authority buildings and the footage
is used retrospectively with no proactive monitoring of the cameras.
d)
There are thirteen which are a partnership approach between
Police and Local Authorities/Arms length charitable trusts into dedicated
monitoring stations which proactively monitor the cameras.
The
monitoring stations are either located in purpose built buildings owned by
the local authority or within Police Offices. The monitoring can be on a
full time basis or on a restricted basis, but only monitoring CCTV. The
facilities are seen as a vital tool and can be utilised by the Chief
Executive/Police Commanders as a control centre allowing real time
images for major incidents or civil contingencies.
e)
There is one which is a Local Authority which is a multi function
facility which proactively monitors CCTV along with Local Authority call
centre, out of hours services, council property alarms, personal alarms
for the most vulnerable within the community,
f)
There are seven which are a partnership approach between
Police Local Authorities which are a multi function facility which
proactively monitors CCTV along with Local Authority call centre, out of
hours services, council property alarms, personal alarms for the most
vulnerable within the community, and possible introduction of District
Nursing Services. They also co-ordinate the Anti Social Behaviour
Warden Services run by the Local Authorities. These facilities are
provided 24/7 and 365 days of the year. This partnership approach
provides for the best use of the appropriate resources to meet the needs
of the demands placed upon the partners from the public. The facilities
are seen as a vital tool and can be utilised by the Chief Executive/Police
Commanders as a control centre allowing real time images for major
incidents or civil contingencies.
Recommendation 3:
Statutory
Responsibility
for
the
Operation and Maintenance of Public Space CCTV in Scotland is
allocated to a Public Body.

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FUNDING FRAMEWORK
CAPITAL
As a result of the disparate governance structures employed in the
management of Public Space CCTV throughout Scotland, there is
negligible strategic direction around capital funding.
Total capital expenditure (2013/14) is £18.688 million.
There is a very limited number of Local Authorities who allocate a capital
budget to Public Space CCTV, although the current financial years level
of investment is significant based mainly on the funds allocated to
Glasgow (GCSS) of £17 million as the result of a bid to the Westminster
Government Technology Strategy Board to upgrade their systems prior
to the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Renfrewshire Council is also
investing £1.3 million in a new Community Safety Hub to include an
upgrade of their CCTV systems. There is no Police contribution to this
project.
Other smaller capital investments have been identified by the relevant
local authorities within their budgets.
The following graph shows Police Scotland Divisions which have Local
Authorities within their geographic boundaries that have Capital
Investment identified for 2013/14.

With the exception of Greater Glasgow and Renfrewshire & Inverclyde,
there is very limited capital expenditure on the Public Space CCTV
infrastructure in Scotland. Police Scotland is not contributing to any of
this capital expenditure.

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REVENUE

31 of the 32 Local Authorities have provided details of their Public Space
CCTV revenue expenditure (2013/14) giving a total spend of
approximately £11 million7
Police Scotland contributes approximately £3 million as part of these
total revenue costs. Police Scotland also provides services in kind as a
number of Public Space CCTV systems which are not monitored full time
are fed into 32 Police Offices throughout the country.
Members of
Police Staff and or Police Officers utilise these systems as and when
required and in some occasions manoeuvre the cameras.
Recommendation 4:
Current Police Scotland projects looking
at rationalisation of opening hours (Public Counter Service Review)
and rationalisation of Police Offices are aware of implications in
relation to monitoring and housing of CCTV facilities.

The following tables and charts represent the total revenue budgets and
the Police Scotland contribution.

Edinburgh City Council has declined to provide any of their revenue
costs. They have a control room to monitor their 212 Public Space
CCTV cameras. This is staffed by 19 full time equivalent CCTV
operators, 1 supervisor and 1 manager. Police Scotland contributes a
total of £70,218 to the revenue costs which pays for a Police Officer and
member of Police Staff within the setup.
Police Scotland is currently in an advanced stage of negotiations with
Aberdeen City Council to address the current funding situation.
Aberdeen City Council have agreed to lead on Public Space CCTV and
submitted an options paper to the City Council to agree funding
mechanisms for the future which should significantly reduce or negate
the current Police Scotland revenue contributions.
Police Scotland does not make any financial contribution to Public Space
CCTV in the Lothian and Scottish Borders Division.
Information redacted
Total revenue costs excluding the figures from Edinburgh City Council.

7

City of Edinburgh Council has declined to provide details of 2013/14 revenue expenditure for
this review
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Information redacted
The total Police contribution to revenue budgets not including Police CCTV
liaison officers is £2.3 million.

There have been significant instances where CCTV managers have
found themselves in “crisis‟ with little continued revenue funding in place
to pay for staff, equipment, maintenance etc. A wide range of business
growth and diversification strategies to source funding have therefore
been developed. More commonly within local authorities where CCTV
control rooms may operate 24/7, they are seen as a resource to be used
also to provide cover for any “out-of-hours” service e.g. housing repairs
reporting, community alarm, intruder alarm and property CCTV
monitoring etc. This financial need to source alternative revenue may
well act to dilute the volume and quality of pro-active CCTV monitoring
as CCTV staff become diverted to undertake these other fee earning
functions8.
Within the current climate the position regarding identifying the revenue
funding has still not changed and is a challenge for CCTV managers
continually having to compete against statutory obligations and reducing
budgets. A number of Local Authorities have indicated that as it is not
their statutory obligation to provide CCTV and that they see the main
benefactor to be the Police, COPFS and Scottish Court Service. In the
next round of budgetary cuts CCTV will be looked at and the possibility
remains that funding could be withdrawn in the next round of
negotiations.
All the Local Authorities who received revenue funding from legacy Force
areas have intimated that a financial contribution from the Police is
critical to maintain CCTV services.
Prior to Police Scotland “there has been no national policy on funding
and each police force made a local decision as to whether to provide
CCTV funding. Many offered support “in kind” by providing police officers
to operate CCTV and/or to act as liaison/evidence officers9. This current
review will inform a decision as to the corporate approach to be adopted
by Police Scotland.
One of the recommendations from the Strategic Report on Improving the
Efficiency & Effectiveness of Public Space CCTV in Scotland – Scottish
Government Justice Analytical Services, November 2009 was that
funding for existing CCTV systems across Scotland should be urgently
reviewed. Aside from advancing digital technology, across Scotland
several CCTV systems are becoming technologically obsolete or beyond
economical repair. Due to funding restrictions not all cameras are
8

Strategic Report on Improving the Efficiency & Effectiveness of Public Space CCTV in
Scotland – Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services, November 2009
9
Strategic Report on Improving the Efficiency & Effectiveness of Public Space CCTV in
Scotland – Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services, November 2009
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continually displayed to a monitor and / or fully monitored or maintained
to a “fit for purpose‟ standard particularly in the smaller Public Space
systems where budgets are particularly constrained.
No action was taken on this recommendation and 4 years have elapsed
with the Public Space CCTV estate across Scotland continuing to age
and no clearly identified Strategy and direction as to how this will be
funded in the future. There continues to be no long term funding
strategies in place at central or local government level to sustain the
existing Public Space CCTV infrastructure.
SUSTAINABILITY
Assess the current differing levels of technical infrastructure and shelf life
of Public Space CCTV throughout the 32 Local Authority areas in
Scotland10.
CCTV equipment has historically been designed to be robust and
reliable. The age of certain parts of the current infrastructure is testament
to this fact with some constituent parts well over 10 years in continuous
operation. In terms of sustainability it is probably the move to digital
which is the major factor to alter this current situation. As CCTV is
technologically driven there are factors described elsewhere in this
document which have a bearing. Continuous developments in digital
video storage systems mean that recording systems are being replaced
much sooner than their tape based counterparts. It cannot be ignored
that digital development will continue apace ensuring that today’s capital
investment in CCTV will need revision earlier than has been required in
the past.
Sustainability of the current CCTV infrastructure is directly related to its
age with only 3 refurbishment projects covering 18% of Scotland’s CCTV
in the coming year. It is reported that a major contribution to the
successful bid for £17million was the upgrade of Glasgow’s ageing
CCTV camera stock and its supporting infrastructure.
When first introduced CCTV images were wholly generated by analogue
CCTV cameras which were then transmitted across cables to a CCTV
monitoring station where they were recorded and switched (by a matrix)
to any number of screens, termed video walls. All of the above was
carried out in the analogue domain with images recorded on tape and all
other functions were fully analogue based. The electronics industry has
developed efficient digital systems to improve signal quality and lower
bandwidth requirements that now the entire above can achieved by
digital means. The uptake from analogue to digital signalling can be
progressive with systems of mixed analogue and digital component
parts. These systems are termed “hybrid”. The use of digital signalling
opens up the opportunity to transfer CCTV images and commands by
10

Police Scotland Public Space CCTV Review, Terms of Reference - Sustainability
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digital networks utilising the use of IP, the Internet Protocol, on any
computer network.
From returns received the following statistics can be drawn:

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

80% of cameras are analogue, 20% are digital
85% of Matrix are analogue, 15% are digital
80% use analogue network transmission, 20% of cameras use
digital

These figures highlight that although there have been some updates
carried out to the CCTV systems in Scotland there is a major piece of
work required to turnaround failing systems and to keep them fit for
purpose. Also it is evident that a major investment is required in CCTV in
Scotland if it is to remain viable.
An undoubted risk is attached within this assessment of the technology
landscape, whereby 85% of analogue matrices have been identified.
These component parts have mostly become obsolete and are not
obtainable within the market place any longer, should these components
fail and a replacement is not sought it would cause a hybrid system to
instantly fail. Thus the entire system would become redundant. Hybrid
systems are now reliant on some component parts being available in the
second hand market place to where there is no guarantee of obtaining
the equipment required. This also allows for prices to be inflated as
demand outstrips supply.
Not all CCTV cameras that are analogue need to be upgraded by a
digital counterpart. These can have an incremental step applied; a digital
encoder back end added which effectively would convert the camera to
provide digital signalling. (A hybrid CCTV Camera)
To achieve computer network transfer the adoption of a digital CCTV
matrix is required which infers that 80% of the CCTV systems in
Scotland are in need of an upgrade prior to going digital. We must
consider that for a true digital system that both the camera (front end)
and digital video recorder (back end) be digitally compatible.
The cost of upgrading all 85% of the CCTV systems in Scotland on aging
matrices from analogue to digital is significant and therefore poses a
major risk to continued operations. It is estimated that a capital
investment of approximately £3.8 million is required for matrix updates
alone for systems remaining on analogue.
The cost of upgrading all 80% of analogue cameras to digital cameras in
Scotland is estimated at a cost of £2,500 per camera giving a capital cost
of approximately £5.75 million.
A cost has not been obtained for changing the 80% of analogue network
transmission to digital transmissions as this would be directly linked to
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the contracts for transmission costs and would depend on the Service
provider.
As reported later in this document the cost of dedicated traditional
analogue based networks is increasing, these increases are an
indication that CCTV cameras operators should look to alternative
methods for image transfers. The most obvious alternatives are
computer networks for the longer distance transfers or wireless networks
for the shorter transfer of images.
Recommendation 5:
All analogue matrices are upgraded to
an agreed digital specification within the next five years when the
current contract with their suppliers expires.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION
Analyse the current position of Public Space CCTV provision in Scotland
and make strategic recommendations to facilitate informed discussion
with Police Scotland and core partners, including Local Authorities and
Scottish Government, on the future development and coordination of this
facility over the next decade11.
It is clear that an investment into the landscape of Public Space CCTV is
required now at an urgent pace. Systems across the country are already
becoming obsolete and redundant. An agreed standard and path to
digital must be agreed to ensure that Public Space CCTV remains fit for
purpose
An indication of the pace of change is that CCTV industry forecasts
currently predict that shipments of analogue CCTV cameras will be
overtaken by their digital counterparts in 2017.
The investments of the past in high quality analogue cameras and their
supporting lenses and infrastructure are too great to cast aside all at
once. The cost of replacement in its entirety would be prohibitive in
today’s austere financial climate. The vast majority of Public Space
systems (85%) are hybrid, neither analogue nor digital but a mix of both
with 20% of Public Space CCTV cameras in Scotland purporting to be
fully digital. The addition of a digital video encoder to an analogue CCTV
camera to become a hybrid is an incremental upgrade that sustains the
cameras use whilst a full digital network is being realised.
It is important that a staged transition be considered for Scotland, this
would allow Public Space CCTV to meet the minimum standard so that
sharing protocols can be effective and efficient.

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Police Scotland Public Space CCTV Review, Terms of Reference – Future Development &
Coordination
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TOMMORROW’S CCTV
1. It is imperative that the path from analogue to digital be explored and a
standard platform agreed. This would not be restrictive in terms of
suppliers, manufacturers or installers but would apply a standard to the
output of quality of the system.
2. In line with broadcast television higher definition CCTV cameras and
displays will develop with Ultra High Definition Tele-Vision (UHDTV)
currently being publicly demonstrated by a number of major Japanese
suppliers.
3. With major improvements in video compression such as High
Efficiency Video Compression standards (HEVC) transmission of high
definition images will increasingly rely on the computer networks and
the internet protocol (broadband) for delivery.
4. Improvements in video compression and reducing digital storage costs
enable high definition images to be recorded economically.
5. Video Analytics (VA) will become more prevalent as processor speeds
and algorithms continue to improve allowing more intricate and
complex functions carried out within cameras themselves.
6. As digital recording media (memory) improves in speed and size
recording of video will be pushed to “the edge” within the camera.
7. Given the costs involved for placement fixed (permanent) CCTV
cameras will be installed in areas of large footfall and or areas of night
time economy. (Ideally only after a privacy impact assessment has
been carried out and there is a widely agreed and documented
partnership need published.)
8. Rapid deployment cameras will increase in number. The advance of
wireless communications and the ease to redeploy CCTV will improve
which will broaden their attraction as a cost effective public
reassurance tool.
The rate of adoption of high definition cameras for CCTV is increasing; it
is not immediately apparent but standard definition CCTV hardware is
becoming less obvious in the market place. High definition brings with it
opportunities and challenges. The opportunity arises from high definition
images allowing observers to explore in more detail areas in static
images in the digital domain lessening the reliance on operator
intervention. With higher definition fixed CCTV cameras there may be no
requirement for CCTV operators to physically alter camera views with a
single static camera covering a larger area than its standard definition
counterpart.
[Note: High definition cameras have been highlighted by the UK
Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Andrew Rennison, as a possible
threat to the privacy of individuals’ captured by HD CCTV from the higher
level of detail available from the technology.]
With the application of high definition cameras the size of memory to
retain images and the bandwidth (network capacity) to view increases
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but fortunately the impact of both these factors will be offset by
continuing improvements in network capacity and video compression.
The reliance on fibre based connectivity between cameras and their
monitoring and recording position for transmission has and continues to
see major increases in costs as the realisation that video data has to
compete on a more equal basis with computer networks for digital
bandwidth. The response of CCTV practitioners has been to turn to
wireless for the relatively shorter distance transmission of images.
Wireless is not without its drawbacks but it does not involve the same
civil works to install as fibre and the revenue costs are becoming highly
competitive. Wireless CCTV like most technologies and for the same
reasons is becoming digitally based and a number of CCTV systems
have adopted 3G mobile telephony for less critical image transfers.
Computer network transmitted CCTV is now a reality, many television
programmes are available over the internet, the BBC iPlayer™ for
example, which is a consequence of high levels of development in video
compression and improvements in network capacity. Video compression
is achieved by analysis of images and reducing the content whilst not
impacting the viewing experience. These technological enhancements
offer the possibility of the rationalisation of CCTV monitoring positions by
transmitting images over wide area networks allowing CCTV monitoring
and control to take place theoretically anywhere on the network and
therefore over more geographically spread areas. The major obstacle to
its wider adoption is the concern of IT professionals to allow video (which
traditionally has been bandwidth hungry) across their computer
networks.
During the local authority consultation phase a number of Local
Authorities stated in relation to Public Space CCTV that they had
considered working collaboratively with neighbouring Local Authorities
but that the cost was prohibitive. The cost of transmission particularly for
the rural areas again was very expensive. There is no common
infrastructure for Public Space CCTV at present but this could change
due “The Scottish Wide Area Network” (SWAN).
The following is a resume of what SWAN is expected to deliver and there
is a clear correlation of what could be achieved in relation to a common
infrastructure for Public Space CCTV. Ron McDonald Head of National
Communications within the SWAN project has been contacted and
stated he saw no reason why Public Space CCTV could not utilise this
project and advised that the preferred bidder would be appointed in
October 2013 when discussions could take place to identify requirements
and possible costings.
SWAN is designed to ensure that Scottish public service organisations
get best value for money in its investments in ICT. Collaboration is now
the default choice in the design and delivery of services and in the
procurement and deployment of ICT infrastructure to support this. There
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is also a presumption against each organisation separately pursuing
investment in and ownership of ICT assets or seeking its own capability
for individual development. One deliverable of the strategy is a public
sector network which supports resilient high-volume and high-speed
communication.
The SWAN initiative is strategically aligned with the McClelland Review
of Scottish Public Sector ICT Infrastructure, taking forward its
recommendations on public sector collaborative procurement,
aggregation of network demand and use of common standards.
The McClelland Review of Scottish Public Sector ICT Infrastructure,
published in June 2011 recommended that:




The few large and many other multiple small contracts should be
aggregated to build a single Scottish Public Sector Network that
adopts the standards and protocols of the UK PSN
The combined spend should be leveraged to gain cost and
performance advantages for the public sector
This network should be used by every public sector body and
university and college in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Response to the McClelland Review of ICT
Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland committed to achieve
better value through collaboration and sharing of ICT infrastructure and
digital connectivity.
Therefore if utilizing an IP network for CCTV SWAN could be the driver
to rationalise monitoring stations across Scotland12. Although this does
not detract from the changes which need to occur with the current estate
of Public Space CCTV.
Recommendation 6:
Once preferred bidder is identified for
SWAN project early negotiations are required to elicit possible
benefits for Public Space CCTV throughout Scotland utilising this
system.
Alternative CCTV topologies to that of central monitoring and recording
are now realisable using modern video servers, recording CCTV
cameras locally, in a school, in a public building, small town CCTV
systems can improve service delivery by connecting CCTV recorders on
a computer network.
There are technological limits in the form of network latency that would
impact the distance over which fully monitored and controlled CCTV
cameras could realistically operate.

12

http://www.government-online.net/scottish-wide-area-network/dated 060813
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Video Analytics is the automated use of images to highlight changes in a
cameras captured view. As such it is highly used in the security industry
to bring to the attention of CCTV operators only that a predefined threat
has occurred and it creates a notification or alarm. With the ongoing
development of such systems it is possible for Video Analytics in the
future to determine if behavioural conditions occur and bring into view
only CCTV images where there has been a major change thus relieving
operators from having to observe large number of images on a video
wall. This could lead to a reduction in the number of required CCTV
operations staff. To support such advances in the future the overall
network of Public Space CCTV need to be at an acceptable digital
platform.

BODY WORN CAMERAS
In recent years there has been the introduction of the wearing of body
worn cameras by Police Officers, Community Wardens and SIA
Stewards. There have been two pilot projects in Renfrewshire and
Aberdeen Council area prior to the inception of Police Scotland. An
evaluation of the pilots13 was carried out in 2011 which identified a
reduction in crime and benefits regarding early pleas within the Court
system resulting in cost savings. Whilst there a clear benefits to the
adoption of this device it is disparate throughout Police Scotland. Only
one legacy Force area Grampian procured body worn cameras for their
officers. In other areas small amounts of money have been given
generally from Community Safety Partnerships to local Divisional
Commander who bought a limited amount of cameras which range with a
guarantee of one to three years. There is no internal Information
Technology support for these devices. The management of these
devices at a number of different offices is questionable in regards to
compliance with the Information Commissionaires Office guidance and
legislative requirements.
Recommendation 7:
Police Scotland provides direction on
the corporate approach to the capital purchase of body worn
cameras and associated revenue costs which requires to be
supported by a relevant Standard Operating Procedure and
Training provision.
PARTNERSHIP DATA SHARING (INCLUDING IMAGE CAPTURE
AND STORAGE)
Review current practice, including existing partnership data sharing
projects within COPFS in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and make
recommendation on best practice to be adopted nationally14.
13

OSD Consulting Evaluation Report 2011
Police Scotland Public Space CCTV Review, Terms of Reference – Partnership Data
Sharing
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This review focussed on the process surrounding Police Scotland
sharing Public Space CCTV images with COPFS for evidential purposes
associated with criminal prosecutions in Scotland. The nature of the
process also includes sharing other images obtained from private space
CCTV also referred to as 3rd party CCTV.
In general terms current practice throughout Police Scotland is disparate
around the same theme whereby COPFS request a CCTV image
production through a forensic gateway. This request is processed, the
desired image is burned to disc and the disc is manually delivered to
COPFS.
This current process is weak in the following areas:

system is dated in respect of current technology



bureaucratic in respect of unnecessary witnesses involved in the
evidence chain



not secure in respect of the ability to tamper with CCTV evidence in
disc format



does not afford the punctual sharing of evidence to positively effect a
plea of guilty during the judicial process

i6
Police Scotland has just procured a new IT system i6 that will
revolutionise the way we deliver our core business both internally and
externally with partner agencies, to ensure that we have a corporate
approach which is effective and efficient.
One of the benefits of CCTV systems is that CCTV Cameras are an
independent witness beyond intimidation and the recorded footage is its
statement in court. One of the challenges currently facing the Police
Service is to deliver the relevant CCTV images to the Procurator Fiscal
at the same time as the case is reported whether that is as a custody
case or a report case. Clearly the quicker the Procurator Fiscal has the
CCTV images the quicker the defence is fully aware of the weight of
evidence against their client which could result in very early pleas of
guilty. This would be of immense benefit to Police Scotland preventing
the requirement to submit full statements, the Scottish Police Authority
not requiring to carry out detailed forensic examinations, the needless
citing of witnesses for possible proceedings, the Procurator Fiscal’s
Office not requiring any further action after the initial marking of the case
and presenting it at Court and the Scottish Court Service having fewer
trials to arrange and manage. All this would result in a considerable cost
saving to the public purse.

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i6 will deliver an integrated electronic case management system, which
is supported by an electronic production system. There is the ability to
add still images and limited amounts of CCTV footage (as long as these
are not in an unusual or ‘exotic’ format) and send these electronically to
the Procurator Fiscal, which will have a unique production number and a
full audit trail for anyone accessing that footage. i6 will utilise desktop
personal computer functionality such as Windows Media Player to allow
the footage to be played on any computer that has the software
application.
Preliminary discussion with some Public Space CCTV managers
regarding the production of images in a standard format to allow this
solution to progress would not be an insurmountable problem as long as
they were consulted and provided with the necessary information. At
present 72% already produce images in a format that is acceptable to
the Procurator Fiscal, but an issue is the encryption of the data which is
required would need to be addressed in any solution. This would allow
where there is 24 hour monitoring, the images could be shared with the
Police immediately and thereafter added to the case. Clearly if it is
private space CCTV then that would still require to be formatted by a
Digital Forensic Unit or Technical Support Unit as is current practice.
Whilst i6 has some technical ability to deliver this solution the exact
limitations of the solution are still to be explored as a part of the detailed
design phase of the programme. There may be limitations in terms of
data storage of such images and the management of them within the
infrastructure.
Martin Leven, Head of IT, has been consulted and has agreed that the
technical solution is viable and the best option moving forward. His
department is currently working on Project Core regarding the internal
network for Police Scotland which will also provide data storage and an
archiving solution in relation to Force information. What was required
was a business case to be presented in relation to CCTV capture to
Court. This would allow work currently being progressed in different
work streams to be coordinated to achieve the desired result.
Recommendation 8:
A project is established to implement the
electronic transfer of Public Space CCTV images to Court utilising
i6 and Project Core. Collaboration is required between COPFS,
Scottish Court Service, Police Scotland and Public Space CCTV
Operatives.
Whilst the future would appear to be i6 it is not anticipated that it will be
delivered for at least two years. In the interim it is proposed that a pilot
project be established at a Scottish Court building. The project would
look at placing a reviewing suite for Public Space CCTV within the Court
Building. This would allow access for the Procurator Fiscal and the
defence agent to review the Public Space CCTV at all and every stage of
the court process. If the case went to trial it would be streamed from this
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computer to a plasma screen within the Court. This would lead to cost
savings for Police Scotland in relation to burning of discs, work currently
done with Digital Forensics Unit, lodging transportation and destruction
of productions. The pilot will also produce data in relation to the benefits
of utilising CCTV images at each stage of the process. The estimated
cost of the pilot for installation would be approximately £25,000 with
annual transmission/maintenance costs of £2,000.
Recommendation 9:
A pilot project is established in an
identified Court location to provide a viewing suite for the
Procurator and defence agents and thereafter if required as
evidence within the court is transmitted on a plasma screen.
This report was tasked with looking at Public Space CCTV but Police
Scotland utilises a lot of images from 3rd party CCTV which requires to
be altered to a format that can be played in the Court system. Currently
this work in the West Command area is undertaken by the dedicated
Digital Forensic Unit. In the East and North Command area this work is
undertaken by the Technical Support Unit and on some occasions using
the Public Space CCTV operatives who have purchased the software to
perform that task.
Recommendation 10:
An internal review of the role of
Technical Support Unit and the Digital Forensics Unit to be carried
out to identify best practice and develop a corporate model for
Police Scotland.

PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY
As this is the first questionnaire since the implementation of the National
Strategy it will be the base line of where CCTV is now and following
reviews will continue to monitor work ongoing to implement the National
Strategy.
In the questionnaire a number of questions were asked in relation to the
National Strategy Document to gauge what progress had been achieved.
14 Local Authorities have utilised the camera evaluation tool which
identified 53 cameras which were not strategically placed to deliver the
required outcomes. The issue identified in trying to remove Public Space
CCTV Cameras was that the public were not in favour as they believed
that the camera was preventing crime and if removed crime would
increase. A number of Local Authorities felt the tool was cumbersome
and not easily utilised. In addition there was a cost applied to the
removal of the identified cameras which in turn become prohibitive.
Only 8 Local Authorities produce annual reports and 9 Local Authorities
use key performance indicators for the services they provide. 15 Local
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Authorities have carried out a Strategic Review of their CCTV facilities.
19 Local Authorities have an internal audit mechanism to ensure
compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
It has been difficult to establish the exact figures across in relation to
proactive monitoring of Public Space CCTV in relation to crimes detected
and persons reported to the Procurator Fiscal across Scotland. Of the
areas that record statistics the detection rate ranges between 45% and
65% and the command and control systems throughout Scotland have
identified that 6377 calls were generated for the last financial year by
Public Space CCTV monitoring.

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