What is the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice?
The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice issued by the Home Secretary under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 was developed to provide a coherent and comprehensive structure against which best practice in visual data processing and/or management could be measured and assessed.
The Code of Practice (CoP) sets out 12 guiding principles which aim to strike a balance between protecting the public and upholding civil liberties.
Owing to the broad scope of surveillance technologies available, the Code of Practice (CoP) is applicable to the data and privacy requirements for organisations deploying any of the following modalities of surveillance:
- CCTV – Closed Circuit Television
- BWV – Body Worn Video
- UAS (Drones) – Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition
- AFR – Automatic Facial Recognition
Certification against the CoP allows organisations utilising any of the above technologies to demonstrate compliance with best practice surveillance requirements which in turn provides public reassurance that video recording devices are used proportionately, effectively and in pursuit of a legitimate aim.
IQ Verify are one of only three organisations who have been approved by the UK Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC) to audit against this essential surveillance standard. Successful organisations are awarded with the SCC digital certification mark and are featured on the .gov publicly available register of Code Compliant companies. Whether you are a private car park operator or drone organisation, local authority or police force, certification against the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice provides confirmation that your organisation adheres to the highest standards of data and privacy in its use of surveillance based technology.
For more information, please refer to the additional guidance below or refer to our partnership section for view of the audit discounts that we have available.
Who is it for?
Certification is available for any organisation that operates cameras in a public space. It is applicable to public and private sector organisations alike and demonstrates best practice with regards to data and privacy in video recording.
Certification is not limited to CCTV and instead covers a broad spectrum of surveillance camera systems, including:
CCTV – Closed Circuit Television
BWV – Body Worn Video
UAS (Drones) – Unmanned Aircraft Systems
ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition
AFR – Automatic Facial Recognition
Applicant organisations tailor their Code of Practice certification to the surveillance systems use by their organisation and compliance with the code is monitored annually.
Special Offer: Partnerships and Discounts
British Parking Association (BPA)
British Parking Association (BPA)
British Parking Association (BPA)
Aligning to the requirements of the Private Parking Code of Practice, certification against the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice allows parking operators to demonstrate conformity of CCTV/ ANPR or BWV.
BPA members are now entitled to 20% off their audit with IQV.
Ridge Park Ltd.
British Parking Association (BPA)
British Parking Association (BPA)
We recognise the value of effective support when it comes to audit preparation. Ridge Park offer consultancy services to help prepare organisations for the requirements of their Code of Practice audit.
Ridge Park clients are now entitled to 20% off their audit with IQV.
ARPAS-UK
British Parking Association (BPA)
ARPAS-UK
Aligning to points 20 through 25 of the Drone Code, the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice is the only recognised and Home Office linked data and privacy certification available for drone organisations.
ARPAS members are now entitled to 20% off their audit with IQV.