CCTV introduced in Newham in 1997 reductions in crime in excess of 35% and maintained. Between that date and October 1998 Newham carried out research into use of technologies to improve the benefit of the systems to the majority and further restrict criminal behaviour. This research indicated that public perception of being a victim and criminals perception of detection could be linked.

The need was to reduce the public's fear of becoming a victim of crime and increase the criminal's perception of the chance they would be detected. Not just detected committing the crime, but detected being present in the area where the crime was committed. In this way they could not use the alibi that they were 'out of town'.

Back in 1996 public fear of crime across the Borough was above 75% it now stands at 67% and is dropping. That's not just about CCTV or even facial recognition. It's about the Local Authority taking a stand against the anti social criminal behaviour of a very small percentage of the population and working in close partnership with the police. That was not the case 10 years ago in this country.

The criminal needs to be made fully aware that his (predominantly young males) behaviour is unacceptable and we will take action to protect the law abiding majority. It is our duty to do so under the Human Rights Act. Since Newham first installed CCTV back in early 1997 the facial recognition technology has been one of the additions to the system. These additions will always be openly trailed, amid much publicity, as achieved back in October 1998.

We needed the full power of the media then to ensure that everyone knew what we were doing. We were specifically targeting the criminals in that 'everyone'. They needed to be aware of what was going on it was their perception of detection that we had to increase.

The trail was deemed a success and public approval was judged by comparing an opinion poll result from early 1998 to that of late 1999. In 98 67% were in approval of the action we were taking with CCTV. The 1999 results published in 2000 indicated that 93% were now in favour of the authority action regarding CCTV. This increase was despite the fact that in late 1999 we asked them to make the judgement based on the consideration of human rights, civil liberty and privacy issues that may have arisen.

Criminal reaction! We did not personally speak to any. That is a police duty. However crime rates in CCTV areas dropped dramatically. Let us look at the first financial quarter of this year. Newham's peer group Boroughs in London have experienced rises in Street crime of between 10% to 58% whilst Newham has experienced only a 0.4% rise

All this was achieved by increasing the criminal knowledge of what the camera could be doing. Traditionally CCTV cameras capture a wide angled panoramic view of an area to use facial recognition we concentrated of pinch point entry zones and allowed the view to run through a computer.

Youngsters have incredible knowledge of then power of computers and are aware that they can in certain circumstances outperform a human. The repetitive task of viewing faces passing through a screen is one of those tasks. So effectively they knew we were using technologies that took no break. However they did not know which cameras where doing the job. Hence, we believe, the changes in crime rate. They no longer wanted to gamble that they could commit a crime behind the camera as they may have passed one identifying them on route to crime scene.

Reduction in crime:~ 34% to be exact following the introduction of facial recognition. We got an incredible amount of help from media coverage TV, papers, magazines was extensive as we announced before starting the trial in October of 1998. This 34% follows on from the 30%~35% reduction achieved when we install CCTV initially. So overall reductions have more than outweighed the cost. How do you cost the misery that a pensioner who has been mugged suffers because they are frightened to leave home to collect their pension for fear of being mugged again?

The residents have experienced open and honest operation of their CCTV systems designed to benefit their daily lives and protect them from having their civil liberty, privacy and human rights infringed by a very small criminal minority.

Is this Orwells Big Brother or a modern day friendly uncle / aunt looking after you?

Orwell was a visionary the only thing he did not perceive was that rate at which crime would rise and the fact that a small minority of the community (in Newham 0.04% of 250,000) would be responsible for making 75% of the population fear being a victim of crime. Newham had 35,000 recorded crimes last year.

We are not a state like Big Brother watching you. But a local authority acting as the friendly uncle aunt looking after you. If the criminal minority see us as Big Brother so be it. We are making Newham safer for the other 249,900! They accept our efforts on their behalf.

This system is run openly unlike Orwell's fear of the state taking full control and making decisions for the people. This system is at popular request to improve lifestyles. We listen to the objectors but have safeguards in place based on their objections. This ensures we operate a fair and open system which benefits the vast majority of those who would come, live, shop or work in Newham. The signage we use also ensures that everyone knows what the cameras are being used for.

The Newham scheme is one that is operated for the benefit of the law-abiding majority. Those faces that are scanned are not stored on a computer unless they are a confirmed match to a subject on the database. The subjects on the database are reviewed by police at least every 12 weeks and sooner if circumstances dictate. No person becomes a database subject unless they have been convicted of committing crime and police intelligence shows that they are positively engage in similar activity in the last 12 weeks.

All subjects that alert the control room have to be confirmed first by the council operator and second by the police operator before any consideration as to action takes place.

Before the system went live consultations took place between the Data Protection Registrars Officers and Newham. Their advice was adopted and Codes of Practice for the systems revised to comply with their suggestions.

Newham's CCTV system is operated in a fair, open and honest manner. It is delivering a safer environment for the residents and visitors of Newham. The systems are widely publicised and all areas covered are well sign posted. The fact that the system delivers its service in accordance with a clear Code of Practice and with definitive operator Procedures ensures probity of those operators.

The primary purpose of the system is to :~

The Objectives of the Code are to :~

Careful stock was taking of the implications of the 1998 Data Protection Act and Article Eight of the Human Rights Act before the decision to develop a system of Facial Recognition. In addition the systems are used for the benefit of the populous as a whole with honesty and integrity. The purpose of Newham's CCTV systems is published and 'The prevention and detection of crime' is stated as one purpose. Therefore any 'interference with privacy is taken in accordance with law'. Newham's aims fall within 'an exception' under the Act as the system is used for the purpose of 'preserving public safety and prevention of public disorder' furthermore it is seen by both politicians and public as fulfilling a 'pressing social need in this Borough'.

The Codes are rigidly applied and Newham would welcome regulation of CCTV activities by the Government. It is felt that as an operator we would not only meet any new regulation but our current working practices would exceed any regulatory standards that might be imposed.

To conclude Newham has operated this system for the last three years. There has been no public outcry. Even the libertarians in GB recognise that properly implemented and operated in accordance with clear guidelines this system is of great benefit to local citizens. The popular vote locally has increased by nearly 40% since facial recognition was introduced and local support now stands at 93% in favour of the CCTV systems operating as they do. The fact is that Newham has to deny many of the requests made to install new systems and has never received a request to remove a camera.