Introduction
Sandwell Council’s CCTV system is part of a wider partnership approach that helps make Sandwell a safer and more welcoming place at any time of the day or night.
The council’s pro-active CCTV system comprises of over 520 cameras covering key areas across Sandwell, all monitored from a state of the art central control room.
Fully licensed operators monitor Town Centre CCTV as well as cameras located on council owned high-rise estates. The control room also provides remote Concierge services to customers in these high-rise blocks of flats.
CCTV Operations
Control room operations are carried out in line with the regulations and legislation that lays down the requirements for handling and storing data gathered by CCTV and door entry systems. The CCTV control room is accredited by the National Security Inspectorate, having met the compliance requirements by the Surveillance Camera Commissioner's code of practice.
This confirms the control room is compliant with legislation relating to CCTV operations including Data Protection Act/GDPR, Protection of Freedoms Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)
There is a local code of practice that gives basic details of the services provided, what services are provided and how they are managed. Further checks have been carried out by way of a privacy impact assessment that gives further details around how we will use CCTV data
Concierge services
If you receive the Concierge service, you can contact the control room 24 hours a day. As well as providing secure door entry control and CCTV services to high rise blocks of flats, a Concierge service is provided that you can use to contact us directly from your flat using your intercom.
You can contact control room operators to make a report or to raise a concern you may have. If you see or hear about any of the following incidents happening in your block you can report them directly to us from your handset;
- Domestic Abuse that you see or hear
- Hate Crime aimed at you or somebody else
- Misuse of your communal areas
- Vandalism to the block you live in
- Drug use or drug dealing in your area
- Rough Sleepers on your landings or stairwells
Need more information?
Each year the effectiveness of our CCTV systems is captured and detailed within an outcome summary.
For further details about the service please call our CCTV control room on 0121 368 1166.
Responses to frequently asked questions relating to CCTV can be found below.
Expansion of our CCTV and concierge service
To find out more about our CCTV and concierge expansion please click on the link below:
Frequently asked Questions [FAQ’s]
Can I install CCTV in my property?
Yes, you can but there are steps you will need to take and advice you will need to follow. Please refer to the advice and guidance document on the following link Advice & guidance document
Further advice and guidance is available from the Information Commissioner at the following website
My neighbour has installed CCTV and I’m not happy what can I do about it?
Advice and guidance can be found on the information commissioners website
There is crime and/or ASB happening in a certain location can the council install a camera to help deal with the issues?
Please click on the link below for advice on how to report crime and ASB. This may result in a range of measures being put in place – one of which may be the installation of CCTV but will most likely result in other partnership responses in the first instance
Report Anti-Social Behaviour to the Council
How many cameras do the council have, where are they and what are they used for?
A list of all of council cameras can be found within our code of practice. The document also details what CCTV cameras will be used for.
Who monitors the councils cameras?
Cameras monitored by our council control room are monitored by trained and licensed council staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other cameras located in offices etc are operated as required by trained council staff. Further information regarding how they are monitored can be found within our code of practice.
I have had a road traffic accident and need footage from a camera
Please contact Sandwell Council direct and ask for the CCTV control room, we will be happy to help, you can contact us on 0121 368 1166
I have been a victim of crime and need footage from a camera
Please contact Sandwell Council direct and ask for the CCTV control room, we will be happy to help, you can contact us on 0121 368 1166
I need footage from a camera, but it doesn’t belong to the council
Cameras monitoring the public should be clearly signed with details of who monitors them so in the first instance you will need to look for the relevant signage. If this can’t be located, Council staff may still be able to advise you and point you in the right direction. Please contact Sandwell Council and ask for the CCTV control room and we will be happy to help, you can contact us on 0121 368 1166