Civil Enforcement Officers

Headcam FAQs

What is a headcam?

A headcam is a body worn camera (similar to a camcorder) which provides an audio and visual record of the activities of the person who is wearing it.

What does a headcam consist of?

The headcam consists of a small camera which captures visual images, a microphone which captures sound and a small hard drive unit which records and stores this information.

How does the headcam work?

A small camera sits on the wearer’s ear and as it is at eye level records exactly what the wearer sees.  The visual images that it picks up are transferred to the hard drive unit which the wearer also carries.  A microphone worn on the wearer’s clothing picks up all conversations made within the immediate vicinity. 

Can the recordings be tampered with?

The hard drive unit is tamperproof and cannot be accessed by the wearer.  If the recording is paused or stopped at any time, the hard drive unit records this information and the time(s) that it occurred.

Why is Westminster City Council trialling headcams?

• To create safer streets and a reduction in fear of crime
  
• To support Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) by providing a safe operating environment and to assist with training issues
  
• To provide transparent and objective evidence of parking contraventions, street defects and disorder in action

Who will wear headcams?

For the purpose of the trial, only 3 CEOS will wear headcams.  Those CEOs wearing a headcam will also wear a visible badge to indicate that they are using a headcam.

How will the headcams operate?

The CEOs will be fitted with the headcams prior to starting their patrols.  They will be set to record and will not cease recording until the CEO returns to the base at the end of the patrol.  The CEO will not be able to pause or stop recording and any attempt to do so will be recorded on the hard drive.

The continuous recording will ensure that as complete as possible a picture of any interactions or incidents is recorded on the hard drive unit, will offer a greater level of protection to CEOs and will instil a level of confidence and integrity in the recordings for both the Council and members of the public.

How will I know if I've been recorded by a headcam?

Any PCNs issued with a headcam used to record details, will have a card placed in the envelope with the PCN, explaining this.  The card will point you to where information can be found, such as the rights of access, who to contact if you want any further information or to access the recorded data.  If you have any interaction with a CEO wearing a headcam, the CEO will be able to provide you with information and contact details.

For the purposes of the trial, photographic evidence will still be taken by the CEOs using their digital cameras (in appropriate circumstances).  These camera images can be viewed online.  These images will be used as evidence to illustrate a parking contravention and not the footage captured by the headcam.

How can I view or obtain a recording of me?

The Data Protection Act sets out certain conditions and procedures that the Council must abide by in relation to personal data.  If you have, or think you have been recorded, you are entitled to view this and in some circumstances get a copy of any recorded data.  If you wish to request this, please complete the downloadable form.

Any footage released to the public will appear in the form of still images.