FOI release

Public Space CCTV System

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/01526

Received 22 July 2026

Published 22 September 2026

Request

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the Council's public space CCTV system. I would be grateful for responses to the following structured questions.

To help your team return the information efficiently, I have grouped the questions into five sections. I have deliberately scoped the request narrowly, and would be happy to refine further if any part exceeds the Section 12 cost limit.

1. CCTV estate

1.1 The total number of fixed cameras operated by, or on behalf of, the Council in public spaces (excluding cameras covering council office interiors, car parks on private land, and housing-stock-only cameras).

1.2 The total number of redeployable, mobile, or vehicle-mounted cameras operated by, or on behalf of, the Council.

1.3 The approximate age in years of the oldest cameras currently in operation.

1.4 The name and version of the Video Management System (VMS) or control room software currently in use (for example, Genetec Security Center, Milestone XProtect, Synectics Synergy, Cathexis CathexisVision).

2. Contracts

2.1 The names of the current suppliers for each of the following:

a. CCTV hardware supply.

b. Video Management System / control room software.

c. Installation, maintenance, and repair services.

2.2 The contract commencement date and expiry date for each of the contracts identified in question 2.1.

2.3 For each contract, any scheduled option to extend beyond the stated expiry, together with the maximum length of the extension.

2.4 The procurement framework under which each contract was awarded, if any (for example, Crown Commercial Service RM6263, YPO, Procure Partnerships, NEPO, ESPO, or a direct award).

3. Budget

3.1 The total revenue expenditure on the public space CCTV service in the most recently completed financial year (2024/25), broken down where readily available into: (a) staff costs, (b) maintenance contract costs, (c) connectivity / telecommunications costs, (d) software licence costs.

3.2 Any ring-fenced capital allocation for CCTV investment approved in the current financial year (2025/26) or planned for 2026/27.

4. Operational responsibility

4.1 The job title of the officer with day-to-day operational responsibility for the CCTV service (for example, CCTV Control Room Manager, Community Safety Manager).

4.2 The job title of the senior responsible officer (Director or Head of Service level) for the CCTV service.

4.3 Where disclosure is consistent with Section 40 of the Act, the names of the officers in 4.1 and 4.2.

5. Recent funding

5.1 Please confirm whether the Council received funding, applied for funding, or is a named local authority partner in any of the following schemes in the last 24 months:

a. Home Office Safer Streets Fund (any round, including Round 5, 2023-2025).

b. Defra Fly-tipping Intervention Grant Scheme (any round).

c. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Pride in Place Strategy funding.

d. UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations where used for CCTV, community safety, or public realm surveillance.

5.2 Where the Council received funding under any of the above, the total amount and whether any portion was, or is, ring-fenced for CCTV or related technology spend.

Response

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please find the answers to your queries below:

To help your team return the information efficiently, I have grouped the questions into five sections. I have deliberately scoped the request narrowly and would be happy to refine further if any part exceeds the Section 12 cost limit.

1. CCTV estate

Guildford Borough Council has 529 fixed cameras.

1.2 The total number of redeployable, mobile, or vehicle-mounted cameras operated by, or on behalf of, the Council.

We have 205 mobile CCTV cameras.

1.3 The approximate age in years of the oldest cameras currently in operation.

The Council recognises that there is a general public interest in openness and transparency regarding the operation of public CCTV systems and in understanding how public funds are used.

The Council has therefore considered whether the public interest in disclosing the requested information outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption under section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Factors favouring disclosure

Disclosure would promote openness and transparency regarding the Council's CCTV arrangements.
It would increase public understanding of how the Council uses surveillance technology in the performance of its public functions.
Disclosure would assist public scrutiny of the effectiveness, proportionality and value for money of the Council's CCTV system.
There is a public interest in enabling informed debate about the deployment and use of CCTV within the local authority area.
Disclosure would contribute to accountability by demonstrating how decisions relating to public security infrastructure are made and implemented.

Factors favouring maintaining the exemption

The requested information relates to the operation, capabilities, configuration or location of the Council's CCTV infrastructure.
Disclosure would provide individuals seeking to commit crime or anti-social behaviour with information that could be used to identify vulnerabilities in the Council's surveillance arrangements.
Release under the Freedom of Information Act is effectively disclosure to the world at large. Once disclosed, the Council would have no control over how the information is further disseminated or used.
The information could potentially be combined with other publicly available information to build a detailed picture of the Council's security arrangements.
Disclosure may reduce the effectiveness of the CCTV system in preventing and detecting crime, undermining one of its primary purposes.
There is a strong public interest in protecting measures designed to safeguard public spaces, Council assets, staff and members of the public.
If the effectiveness of the CCTV system were compromised, this could increase the risk of criminal activity and result in additional costs to the public purse.

Balance of the public interest

The Council accepts that there is a significant public interest in transparency and accountability regarding the use of CCTV. However, in this case, the requested information would reveal details that could reasonably be used to identify weaknesses in the Council's surveillance and security arrangements.

The Council considers that disclosure would be likely to prejudice the prevention and detection of crime by reducing the effectiveness of the CCTV system and increasing the opportunity for individuals to circumvent or exploit it.

Having considered all relevant factors, the Council concludes that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure because release of this information could prejudice the Guildford Community Safety Partnership’s ability to prevent and detect crime. For that reason, this information cannot be shared under Section 31(1)(a) /or section 31(1)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, where information that could “prejudice the prevention or detection of crime” is exempt from disclosure.

2. Contracts

2.1 The names of the current suppliers for each of the following:

a. CCTV hardware supply.

b. Video Management System / control room software.

c. Installation, maintenance, and repair services.

2.2 The contract commencement date and expiry date for each of the contracts identified in question 2.1.

2.3 For each contract, any scheduled option to extend beyond the stated expiry, together with the maximum length of the extension.

2.4 The procurement framework under which each contract was awarded, if any (for example, Crown Commercial Service RM6263, YPO, Procure Partnerships, NEPO, ESPO, or a direct award).

The Council recognises that there is a general public interest in openness and transparency regarding the operation of public CCTV systems and in understanding how public funds are used.

Factors favouring disclosure

Disclosure would promote openness and transparency regarding the Council's CCTV arrangements.
It would increase public understanding of how the Council uses surveillance technology in the performance of its public functions.
Disclosure would assist public scrutiny of the effectiveness, proportionality and value for money of the Council's CCTV system.
There is a public interest in enabling informed debate about the deployment and use of CCTV within the local authority area.
Disclosure would contribute to accountability by demonstrating how decisions relating to public security infrastructure are made and implemented.

Factors favouring maintaining the exemption

The requested information relates to the operation, capabilities, configuration or location of the Council's CCTV infrastructure.
Disclosure would provide individuals seeking to commit crime or anti-social behaviour with information that could be used to identify vulnerabilities in the Council's surveillance arrangements.
Release under the Freedom of Information Act is effectively disclosure to the world at large. Once disclosed, the Council would have no control over how the information is further disseminated or used.
The information could potentially be combined with other publicly available information to build a detailed picture of the Council's security arrangements.
Disclosure may reduce the effectiveness of the CCTV system in preventing and detecting crime, undermining one of its primary purposes.
There is a strong public interest in protecting measures designed to safeguard public spaces, Council assets, staff and members of the public.
If the effectiveness of the CCTV system were compromised, this could increase the risk of criminal activity and result in additional costs to the public purse.

Balance of the public interest

3. Budget

3.1 The total revenue expenditure on the public space CCTV service in the most recently completed financial year (2024/25), broken down where readily available into:

(a) staff costs:

Not held.

(b) maintenance contract costs:

£25,000.

(c) connectivity / telecommunications costs:

£19,500.

(d) software licence costs:

N/A.

3.2 Any ring-fenced capital allocation for CCTV investment approved in the current financial year (2025/26) or planned for 2026/27.

N/A.

4. Operational responsibility

4.1 The job title of the officer with day-to-day operational responsibility for the CCTV service (for example, CCTV Control Room Manager, Community Safety Manager)

4.2 The job title of the senior responsible officer (Director or Head of Service level) for the CCTV service

4.3 Where disclosure is consistent with Section 40 of the Act, the names of the officers in 4.1 and 4.2.

Please note that we do not publish the names and contact details of Guildford Borough Council employees, because it constitutes personal data under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for employees whose names are not already publicly available. However, I can confirm that the contact details for the Assistant Directors of Regulatory Services and Community Services can be found on our website:

https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/26473/Directors-for-Economy-Planning-and-Place

https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/26472/Directors-for-Housing-Communities-and-Environment

5. Recent funding

5.1 Please confirm whether the Council received funding, applied for funding, or is a named local authority partner in any of the following schemes in the last 24 months:

a. Home Office Safer Streets Fund (any round, including Round 5, 2023-2025):

No.

b. Defra Fly-tipping Intervention Grant Scheme (any round):

No.

c. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Pride in Place Strategy funding:

No.

d. UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations where used for CCTV, community safety, or public realm surveillance:

No.

5.2 Where the Council received funding under any of the above, the total amount and whether any portion was, or is, ring-fenced for CCTV or related technology spend.

N/A.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team

Guildford Borough Council

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.