District Council’s CCTV receives British Standard

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's highly acclaimed CCTV system covering the major towns and villages in south Warwickshire has received national recognition, by achieving British Standard accreditation and is now one of only 4 in the Country to do so.  

"Achieving the British Standard is something that we are all proud of.  We are only one of 4 in the Country to have achieved this standard and it has been achieved through hard work and determination by the CCTV team," says Cllr Chris Williams, Community Services Portfolio Holder.   

 "Reducing crime in the District remains a corporate priority for the Council. Ensuring that the service is managed and run to the highest standards ensures that crimes not only are detected but also the evidence is admissible in court."     

Stratford-on-Avon District has one of the lowest crime rates in the county; however District residents are still concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour.  That is why one of the District Council's aims from the Corporate Strategy is the development of safer and healthier communities.  Residents have said that they want a low level of crime and the District Council has said that it will improve and increase CCTV coverage and work with partners to reduce crime levels. 

Some 91 cameras record footage 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the pictures from all the cameras across the District are fed via optical fibre cabling back to the 24-hour monitoring centre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

British Standard 7958 is based on 120 criterion including effective evidential tape management, effective and regular staff audits and improved accountability.  

Following 9-months internal reviewing of procedures and standards against the stringent criterion an authorised external assessor spent a day assessing the application and awarded the standard.