IM-FOI-2020-1539 Date: 01 October 2020 FREEDOM

OFFICIAL

Our Ref: IM-FOI-2020-1539 Date: 01 October 2020

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

I refer to your recent request for information which has been handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

For ease of reference, your request is replicated below together with the response.

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to establish the facts in regard to the operation of CCTV cameras in and around the city of Inverness.

1. How many CCTV cameras with police access are located in Inverness?

I must first clarify that the public space Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system in Inverness is not police operated and consequently, in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, this represents a notice that the information you seek is not held by Police Scotland.

The only way for police to access information on the Highland Council system is via an information sharing protocol and requires completion of a form provided by the camera operator. Please direct your request for information to the Highland Council via the link above.

To assist further, I note that the following information is publicly available: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/335/community_advice/307/closed_circuit_television_cctv

2. As of 23rd August 2020, which of these CCTV cameras in the city of Inverness are out of commission?

3. When was the Police Scotland, Inverness Area Commander first made aware of each of the CCTV cameras not working?

As above - the CCTV system in Inverness is not police operated and consequently, in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, this represents a notice that the information you seek is not held by Police Scotland.

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4. What dates have each of the non working cameras first been recorded as non working from?

5. When will the non-working CCTV cameras around the city of Inverness be back in full commission again?

Highland Council operates the CCTV cameras and works in partnership with Police Scotland to ensure that the appropriate requirements are met. We are aware that work is ongoing to repair/upgrade the system but again I must advise you this information is held by Highland Council.

Can this information on all of the Inverness CCTV's be made available for all of the Highland Council Wards in and around Inverness, including the Ward that I represent in Inverness South.

You may wish to contact the Highland Council who may be able to provide further clarification in this respect. For all of the requested information a request under FOI(S)A can be submitted to the Highland Council via email using the link below: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/704/data_protection_and_freedom_of_information/340/freedom_o f_information

6. One CCTV camera is located at Inshes Park, and is located under half a mile from Police Headquarters in Inverness. This Inshes Park CCTV camera was funded at considerable expense to local taxpayers from the councillor's ward discretionary budget in October 2017, to assist the police in dealing with large public gatherings of youths, antisocial behaviour and regular reports of people drinking alcohol in public and underage drinking, plus evidence of drug taking at and around the large wooden hut in Inshes Park.

I was most alarmed therefore to find out from local police officers, that the CCTV camera isn't working and hasn't been recording any CCTV images for a considerable length of time. Please can you give me the information regarding the dates that it was first noticed and recorded as out of service, and how long that it hasn't been working for, plus the plans to repair the CCTV in the Inshes Park?

Should you require any further assistance please contact Information Management - Highland & Islands Divisional Headquarters on 01463 720508, quoting the reference number given.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which Police Scotland has dealt with your request, you are entitled, in the first instance, to request a review of our actions and decisions.

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Your request must specify the matter which gives rise to your dissatisfaction and it must be submitted within 40 working days of receiving this response - either by email to [email protected] or by post to Information Management (Disclosure), Police Scotland, Clyde Gateway, 2 French Street, Dalmarnock, G40 4EH.

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of that review, you are thereafter entitled to apply to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner within six months for a decision. You can apply online, by email to [email protected] or by post to Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS.

Should you wish to appeal against the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, there is an appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only.

As part of our commitment to demonstrate openness and transparency in respect of the information we hold, an anonymised version of this response will be posted to the Police Scotland Freedom of Information Disclosure Log in seven days' time.

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