Closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems can be a valuable tool in preventing theft, damage, violence, and other anti-social behaviours in and around our centres. As their effectiveness has increased, Living & Learning has installed CCTVs at some of our premises. This policy outlines how Living & Learning uses CCTV cameras, and how the data captured is accessed and managed.
Living & Learning aims to provide a safe and secure environment to protect the children we serve, their families, our team members, visitors and our premises. Our intention for using CCTVs is to primarily:
We also acknowledge that the recording could be used to:
We take our responsibilities under the Privacy Act seriously and recognise the operation of CCTV means that images and audio of identifiable individuals will be collected, held, and disclosed by Living & Learning. Therefore, the following outlines how we will collect, store, use and access the recordings.
Fixed position security cameras will be placed in designated areas of the premises, that seek to cover as wide a field of view of our premises as reasonably possible. Placement will include areas such as:
The cameras will be positioned in a manner that minimizes any potential invasion of privacy while still providing effective security coverage.
Notice of the existence of cameras will be provided to families, team members, and visitors. Notification will be in the form of signage advising the use of security cameras, and will be visible in the carpark, entrance and/or reception area, as appropriate.
Security cameras will record picture and in some cases audio, to ensure comprehensive surveillance and enhance the security measures in place.
Outside hours of normal centre operation
All cameras will record both picture and audio where capable.
During hours of normal centre operation
All externally placed cameras will record both picture and audio.
If an external camera is pointed toward a children’s play-space, it will not record during normal centre operating hours, however live view will be accessible in the event of an emergency for monitoring purposes.
All internally placed cameras will record picture-only during normal centre hours of operation.
CCTV recordings are stored on a hard drive located at the centre premises. CCTV recordings will record onto the hard drive for up to approximately 60 days (depending on the number of cameras recording at the premises) before being overwritten in a continuous recording cycle. Viewing of the recording can occur via internet access to the hard drive, however recording is not stored in the cloud. Where an incident or suspected incident has been identified, and with the approval of the Chief Executive, a relevant portion of the recording may be copied, downloaded and stored in a secure section of Living & Learning’s intranet while the investigation is carried out.
Recordings are primarily intended to be accessed in response to an event. (For example, an alarm activation, a break-in, damage to the premises, trespass, notification of an incident, a request from an external agency such as the NZ Police).
Live view can be accessed by authorised persons in the event of an emergency for monitoring and co-ordinating a response.
An individual is entitled to request access to available recordings of themselves only. The request can be made in writing to Living & Learning, to the attention of the Chief Executive, identifying themself personally, and the time(s) at which they believe they have been recorded by the CCTV.
Any response to a request will include considerations of the ease of access to locate the relevant recording(s), and the need to protect other people’s privacy who may be in the recording(s). If a request for a copy of the recording(s) is unable to be granted without unreasonably breaching another individual’s privacy, a written description may be provided of activities in the recording(s) pertaining to the individual requesting the information. Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange a viewing of the requested recording(s).
Any request will be responded to within 20 working days.
The Chief Executive will only allow access of relevant CCTV recordings to:
When a request for access to the CCTV has been received and if the recording(s) can be located, the IT Coordinator will take reasonable measures to ensure the relevant recording(s) is saved.
The Chief Executive will take reasonable steps to ensure that public disclosure of recordings does not occur.
The IT Coordinator will take reasonable steps to check CCTV images/recordings are accurate, complete, relevant, and not misleading before using them.