A performance audit into the Justice and Community Safety Directorate’s and the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate’s management of their Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems has found the Directorates’ informally and inconsistently identified the purpose of CCTV systems.
Auditor-General, Michael Harris said his audit and report, Management of Closed-Circuit Television Systems, focused on the management of CCTV systems installed in the public safety network, on board Transport Canberra buses and at Libraries ACT sites.
“The Justice and Community Safety Directorate and the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate have identified the purpose and objectives of their CCTV systems in various documentation, but this has been primarily done informally and inconsistently to date,” Mr Harris said.
“Clarity around the purpose and objectives of the systems is important in facilitating ongoing review and accountability for system performance and reporting on the value and benefit of the systems to the ACT community,” he said.
“There is an opportunity for both Directorates to more effectively review and report on the performance of their systems on an annual basis against clearly identified system purposes and objectives.”
Mr Harris said both Directorates had developed effective processes for managing data captured through the CCTV systems, including practices for the secure storage of CCTV camera data and the release of data to stakeholders.
“The audit found opportunities for improvement, including opportunities to improve the practices for storage of CCTV camera data on board buses,” he said.
Mr Harris made six recommendations in total, two to both Directorates, that they should annually review the effectiveness and ongoing need for CCTV systems; and improve the staff training framework for those involved in the operation of the systems.
He made three recommendations to the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, including that it identify and document the purpose and objectives of its CCTV systems; review and update its CCTV Guidelines; and develop a practice for the destruction of CCTV camera data on board buses 30 days after its capture.
The remaining recommendation was made to the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, where Mr Harris said the Directorate should provide clarity on the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the management and operation of the CCTV systems.
The Auditor-General’s 57-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link and the audit team was Martin Handley and Graham Smith with the support of David Kelly and Taylah Commisso.
