CCTV

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How our CCTV system works

Our Public Space CCTV cameras are monitored 24 hours a day 365 days a year by Security Industry Authority qualified and trained operators, to help maintain public safety, wellbeing, prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, and to support police and emergency services.

Live monitoring: Operators continuously monitor the cameras to respond to incidents in real-time and on request from the Police.

Recording and retention: All footage is recorded and stored for a period of 31 days, after which all data is automatically overwritten.

Purpose: The Public Space Surveillance CCTV scheme for the London Borough of Barnet is deployed for the following purposes:

  1. Prevention, investigation and/or detection of crime
  2. Provision of evidential material for court proceedings
  3. Reduce the fear of crime
  4. Deter crime
  5. Reduce and detect vandalism and antisocial behaviour
  6. Apprehension and/or prosecution of offenders
  7. Assist in the overall management and street scene of the Barnet Council
  8. Enhance community safety, assist in developing the economic wellbeing of the Barnet Council and encourage greater use of town centre facilities
  9. Assist the Barnet Council in its licensing, enforcement and regulatory functions
  10. Assist in traffic management and enforcement, thereby improving the functioning and safety of the highways (including for pedestrians)
  11. Assist in supporting Civil proceedings
  12. Assist in the training of CCTV operators, the Police and others involved in the use of the CCTV system
  13. Public and employee safety
  14. Investigation of accidents and near misses using Council fleet vehicles
  15. Health and Safety provision and safeguarding
  16. Investigation and provision of evidence of staff discipline issues
  17. Assist in the investigation of damage only vehicle collisions whether on the public road, car parks or private property
  18. To ensure that only authorised persons gain entrance to Self-Service Opening (SSO) libraries
  19. To ensure the security and safety of SSO libraries, Council and contractor employees and visitors to the SSO libraries

These activities are carried out in accordance with:

  • The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018
  • The Human Rights Act 1998
  • The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • The Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • The Regulatory and Investigatory Powers Act 2000
  • The Human Rights Act 1998
  • Barnet Council Community Safety Strategy 2022 – 2027

In addition, the Council is duty bound to have regard to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and Surveillance Camera Code of Practice:

Our CCTV Cameras

Camera Types

Our CCTV network consists of a mixture of fixed lens, Pan tilt zoom (PTZ) and Multilens Cameras.

Camera Manufacturers

All cameras installed as part of the scheme are National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) approved manufacturers.

Permanent Cameras

Our CCTV network consists of 498 permanent cameras which are installed across the Borough of Barnet at Public locations including High Streets, Highways and Libraries.

Re-deployable Cameras

We have 33 re-deployable mobile CCTV cameras which can be deployed to assist with emerging issues such as Anti-Social Behaviour and Environmental Crime.

Housing Cameras

We have 33 mobile CCTV cameras which are deployed across Barnet Homes housing estates to assist with issues such as Anti-Social Behaviour and Environmental Crime.

Community Safety Vehicle

In partnership with the Metropolitan Police, we have 2 Community Safety vehicles which are equipped with 4 CCTV cameras each (8 in total) and used for the purpose of Public Safety, Investigations and Enforcement.

Camera Locations

Link to open data

Requesting CCTV Footage

For CCTV footage requests relating to civil claims, i.e. Road Traffic Accidents; we will only liaise directly with your Insurance Company, Legal Representative or authorised investigating body if the incident is a non-criminal matter.

If the incident is related to a criminal offence, we liaise directly with the Police on request. This is to ensure images are only obtained and used for lawful purposes.

Make a request to obtain CCTV images

Prior to the release of any images, we need to ensure that the request is legitimate and consent from the Policy holder has been provided.

Coverage check of our CCTV Locations should be completed prior to submitting a request and confirmation of camera reference provided. Link to open data.

To make a request you will need to email cctv@barnet.gov.uk and provide the following:

  1. Insurers or Solicitors name and address sent from their company email account.
  2. Name of the Client / Policy Holder consenting to the request including a scanned copy of one official document showing the Policy Holders name, date of birth, and address, such as:
    • Passport
    • Birth certificate
    • Driving licence
    • Current utility bill
    • Other recognised ID
  3. Claim Reference Number
  4. The exact date, time and location (street name, landmark or nearby buildings) of the incident
  5. Vehicle Registration, Make and Model of the Policy Holder and of any Third party involved. 
  6. A description of the incident
  7. Camera reference ID

We will notify applicants if there are any CCTV cameras that may have captured the reported incident and provide a Unique Reference Number (URN) which is a free service.

We can advise members of the public of any CCTV cameras in the area; however, we will not release any information of the incident or footage as this will need to be submitted by their Insurance Company, Legal Representative or authorised investigating body on their behalf.

If there are cameras that might have captured the Incident

We will notify your Insurance Company or Legal Representative to make an application quoting the unique reference number issued and invite them to pay £25.00 (including VAT). This will allow us to review the CCTV on the date/time specified.

If there's CCTV footage relevant to your request

We will notify your Insurance Company or Legal Representative of the available images and invite them to pay £75 (including VAT) for the secure digital release of image(s). For this we require a named company email account for this to be sent to.

We aim to respond to all enquiries within 5 days of receipt.

Subject Access Requests in relation to CCTV footage

You have the right to request CCTV images of yourself through a Subject Access Request (SAR). SARs are specific to information about you, and therefore images relating to others will be redacted.

Consequently, any available CCTV footage relating to an accident will not provide the necessary information you require for pursuing a claim. Where you are seeking footage of an accident, you should ask your insurance company to follow the process above and make the request on your behalf.

For further information on Subject Access Requests (SAR) please see

Make a subject access request | Barnet Council

Additional Services

The Community Safety Team offers bespoke CCTV monitoring and installation services. We can include tailored camera placements, extended monitoring periods, and integration with our CCTV Network to support long-term safety improvements.

If you are interested in exploring these options, please contact us directly to arrange a consultation.