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Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) helps to reduce crime, nuisance and anti-social behaviour as well as assisting in securing arrests and prosecutions.

Fixed cameras

Fixed cameras are located in town centres, some villages and in or around shopping centres and retail areas.

Mobile cameras

We also operate a number of deployable (mobile) cameras which can be placed in a hotspot area for short periods.

Deployable cameras are used based upon information provided by partners. We notify local residents by letter of the deployment of a mobile camera.

Body worn CCTV cameras

Some of our operatives use body-worn CCTV cameras while working.

The key objectives of the CCTV cameras are to:

  • protect members of staff and the public
  • discourage physical assaults, aggressive or abusive behaviour against staff
  • deter and detect crime and anti-social behaviour
  • reduce staff’s fear of crime or aggressive or violent behaviour
  • provide evidence in cases of alleged illegal activity or in disciplinary offences. This may amount to misconduct by members of staff.
  • promote officer compliance with council policies and procedures
  • help investigate breaches in Health and Safety incidents, investigate formal complaints or to resolve grievances.
  • Our operatives will take all reasonable steps to make sure those being recorded are made aware that recording is taking place.

View the GDPR privacy statement for body worn CCTV cameras.

CCTV control room

We record images from a control room in Bedford town centre. Cameras record 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Images are routinely stored for one calendar month.

The CCTV control room is a restricted area and there has no public access.

CCTV Code of Practice

We will only use CCTV to achieve the aims and objectives as set out in the ICO CCTV Code of Practice. See Bedford Borough Council's Code of Practice (PDF).

CCTV surveillance is regulated by the following Government acts or bodies:

CCTV position

We position CCTV cameras to respect the privacy of the public and residential properties. They will not overlook areas where privacy is expected without authority.

We display signs where cameras are in operation.

Bedford Borough Council CCTV Service is not responsible for the following camera systems:

  • Police Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
  • Council car park ANPR
  • GATSO traffic enforcement or average speed cameras
  • Any motorway or main highway cameras outside of the town centre

Releasing CCTV images

You have the right to request closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of yourself.

If your enquiry is in connection with a vehicle collision, the enquiry should be made by your insurance company

To submit a request for CCTV footage from a camera managed by Bedford Borough Council complete the Subject Access Form (PDF) and include the following information

  • Date, time and location of incident
  • Details of the incident for example vehicle make model and registration

NSI conformance documents and reports

The Single Responsible Officer (SRO) is Margaret Martinus – Chief Officer Legal, Performance and Democratic Services.

Complaints and feedback 

If you would like to provide feedback or make a complaint about how your request or enquiry relating to CCTV, has been handled, please visit our complaints and feedback page.