Ipswich City Council CCTV use raises serious concerns

QCCL President, Michael Cope, said, “The revelation that Ipswich City Council CCTV has been used to spot illegal parking in that city vindicates the concerns of the Council about the recent extensive and apparently uncontrolled roll out of CCTV in this state funded by a Commonwealth Government program.”

The purpose of CCTV is said to be protecting the public.  In the Council’s view tracking down illegal parking does not fall into this category. 

In the light of events following the London bombings in July 2005, the Council modified its position to accept that there may be a case for the installation of CCTV in high risk areas but on the basis that the product of these cameras needed to be the subject of strict controls.

It is clear from the comments of Mr Pisasale, Mayor of Ipswich, on ABC radio this morning, that Ipswich City Council has no guidelines in place about the use of CCTV.

Mr Cope said, “The QCCL would commend to Mr Pisasale and other Queensland Councils the guidelines introduced recently by the city of Sydney which, although not perfect, make it clear the program is focussed on the safety of the public.”

In 2010 the Victorian Law Reform Commission undertook a comprehensive review of the evidence as to the effectiveness of CCTV in reducing crime.  The Commission concluded that the best it could say on the research into the effectiveness of CCTV programs was that it “remains inconclusive.”

Mr Pisasale today said that CCTV had reduced crime by 90% in Ipswich.  If that is so then it would appear to be a result unique to the world.  The Council calls upon Mr Pisasale to produce independent studies which:

1.                  Show the reduction in crime by 90%;

2.                  Demonstrate that the reduction was caused by the introduction of CCTV as opposed to other factors;

3.                  Demonstrate that the crime has not simply been moved on to some other area, the most common effect of CCTV as shown by international research.

Mr Cope said, “It is time that the Queensland Privacy Commissioner stepped in to issue clear guidelines to Queensland Councils about the use of CCTV.  Those guidelines should reflect the fact that the loss of privacy involved in the use of CCTV needs a serious justification.  That serious justification is a threat to the safety and security of people.  Use of CCTV clearly be restricted to those circumstances.  In addition, the tapes should be wiped clean after 24 hours except for material which needs to be retained for court purposes.”