Operational status of Guildford Town Centre's CCTV network
Case reference FOI2026/00551
Received 10 March 2026
Published 27 April 2026
Request
Dear Freedom of Information Officer, I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the operational status of the CCTV network in Guildford Town Centre (specifically the pedestrianised areas).
Please provide the following information:
1. Total Count: The total number of Council-operated CCTV cameras currently installed in the Guildford Town Centre pedestrian areas.
2. Current Status: As of the date of this request, how many of these cameras are fully operational and currently being monitored/recorded?
3. Fault Logs: The total number of "fault reports" or "maintenance tickets" currently open for CCTV cameras in this zone that have been unresolved for more than 30 days.
4. Downtime Data: The average percentage of the town centre camera network that was operational during the period of January 1st, 2025, to December 31st, 2025.
5. Investment Records: The total amount spent on "CCTV upgrades or replacements" (as referenced in recent correspondence from the Regulatory Services department) between April 2023 and the present date.
Response
Effective community safety relies on a coordinated, problem‑solving approach delivered through the Guildford and Waverley Safer Partnerships. These partnerships bring together the Council, Surrey Police and a wide range of organisations to reduce crime, protect vulnerable people and strengthen community resilience. Within this broader framework, the town centre CCTV network is a key supporting tool, helping to prevent crime and keep Guildford a safe and welcoming place for all.
CCTV is most effective when used alongside a wide range of preventative and partnership measures, including:
· Intelligence‑led policing
· Community engagement and reassurance activity
· Youth diversion and intervention programmes
· Environmental design measures, such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
· Appropriate data‑sharing between agencies, in line with legislation
In this context, CCTV enhances the overall community‑safety strategy rather than acting as a standalone solution. Its effectiveness depends on protecting the integrity of the system and ensuring it remains a credible deterrent.
For this reason, the Council does not disclose information that could reveal gaps in coverage or operational vulnerabilities. Doing so could undermine public safety and weaken the network’s ability to deter and detect crime.
Our priority is always the safety of residents, businesses and visitors. Safeguarding the operational security of the CCTV system is an essential part of that responsibility.
In answer to the specific questions:
Can you tell us which cameras haven’t been working?
We are unable to disclose information about the operational status or locations of individual CCTV cameras. Under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, information that could “prejudice the prevention or detection of crime” is exempt from disclosure.
Publishing details of cameras that are not functioning could create vulnerabilities in the network with the potential to facilitate crime and antisocial behaviour, thereby undermining the system’s intended purpose.
Are all of the pedestrian-area CCTV cameras fully operational?
Alongside Surrey Police, the Council maintains the CCTV network in Guildford through regular inspections and ongoing maintenance arrangements to ensure cameras remain operational.
However, we are unable to disclose the status of individual cameras or disclose how many may have been temporarily out of service. Under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, information that could “prejudice the prevention or detection of crime” is exempt from disclosure.
Any issues that are identified with the CCTV system are addressed with our technical providers and Surrey Police. Issues relating to fibre and power supply damage can take longer as we rely on third party providers to help us to resolve these issues.
Can you provide assurances regarding the operation of the network in the past six months?
The Council and Surrey Police have established maintenance contracts in place and the CCTV network is subject to regular technical checks to ensure reliability.
Where faults occur, they are logged and addressed by our technical providers. Issues relating to fibre and power supply damage can take longer to resolve as we rely on third party providers to help us with these issues.
However, we cannot provide detailed operational continuity reports or historical availability data, as disclosing this could indicate periods of reduced coverage. As this could prejudice crime prevention efforts, this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We take our responsibility for public safety extremely seriously. Maintaining a reliable CCTV network is one element of keeping Guildford a safe place to live, work and visit, and we therefore cannot release information that could compromise that aim.
Are there currently any funding, staffing or network constraints that have affected CCTV effectiveness, or resulted in the deactivation of any part of the network in recent months?
As with any operational system, occasional maintenance or technical issues may occur, but these are addressed through established procedures.
We continue to work closely with Surrey Police and our technical providers to invest in and upgrade the CCTV network, including the replacement of older cameras in priority locations to improve image quality and reliability.
We do not disclose information that could identify specific parts of the network that may have been temporarily offline, as this is exempt under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
There are currently no known resource issues that have resulted in a planned or strategic deactivation of the CCTV network. Our priority is the safety of people who live, work and spend time in Guildford. Protecting the integrity and effectiveness of the CCTV network is a one part of that commitment.
Documents
This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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