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                    Safe City cameras

                    As part of the City of Melbourne’s Safe City Cameras Program (SCCP), closed circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance cameras are installed throughout the city. The cameras help to create a safer environment and reduce crime levels by deterring potential offenders and helping in crime detection.

                    The cameras operate in areas where antisocial behaviour or criminal activity is more likely to occur. Pavement plaques have been placed in the monitored areas.

                    City of Melbourne employs specially trained security contractors to monitor the cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff record incidents captured by the cameras and notify police immediately. Reports are prepared detailing the nature, time and place of an incident, as well as the action taken by staff and emergency services.

                    Additional cameras to be installed

                    Following the Bourke Street incident in 2017, the Victorian Government funded an expansion of the current CCTV network, with 31 new cameras to be installed by the end of 2018. The location of these cameras has been selected by Victoria Police and will strengthen the existing network.

                    The cameras will feed into the City of Melbourne’s Safe City network and 24-hour monitoring hub, and will be monitored by specially trained security contractors who notify incidents to police as they occur.

                    Speaker sets are also being installed at 95 locations across the Melbourne CBD to create a Public Address System that can be used to communicate important messages in an emergency.

                    It is one of a number of channels through which the emergency services can warn or provide information to the community if there is a major emergency.

                    For information on other security improvements being implemented throughout the CBD, visit Victorian Government CBD Safety Upgrade.

                      Safe City Camera Program
                      Safe City Camera Program

                      Safe City Camera Program

                      Safe City Camera Program
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                      Safe City cameras
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                      CCTV patrol vehicle

                      The City of Melbourne also operates a security patrol vehicle that is fitted with 360-degree CCTV surveillance cameras. The vehicle patrols the city on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 6am, all year round. The surveillance cameras record in real-time and the electronic media is downloaded at the end of each shift.

                      Guidelines around footage

                      The SCCP is governed by strict protocols and procedures to safeguard the integrity and accountability of the program. The SCCP Manual covers issues such as:

                      • access to the Camera Control Centre
                      • liaison with Victoria Police
                      • dissemination of images to the Victoria Police, courts and certain civilian applicants.
                      The manual also emphasises the City of Melbourne's commitment to:
                      • ensuring the privacy of individuals is protected
                      • ensuring cameras are only used for their designated purpose
                      • protecting the rights of individuals.

                      Access to footage

                      Electronic media of incidents is made available only to authorised police members and civilians who meet the criteria of the protocols and agree to comply with the requirements for handling, use and return of electronic media. Under the protocols, an application to view or copy electronic media by a civilian will only be approved if the applicant is:
                      • a lawyer acting on behalf of a person alleged to have committed an offence(s) which may have electronic media
                      • a lawyer acting on behalf of the Victorian or Australian Government or Statutory Authority against a person alleged to have committed an offence(s) which may have been recorded
                      • a lawyer acting on behalf of a person who alleges they have been a victim of an offence which has been recorded
                      • a victim of an offence and will be representing themselves in a court of law or tribunal in relation to an offence which may have been recorded. In this instance the applicant must provide evidence to substantiate that he/she has been charged with a criminal offence or has a civil matter before the Court. This evidence could be a copy of the criminal charge or Court hearing date documentation.
                      ​Please note: in accordance with these protocols, we cannot provide material about traffic offences or insurance matters. If you would like more information on accessing Safe City Camera electronic media, contact the City of Melbourne on 03 9658 9658.

                      Storage of footage

                      Electronic media is kept for 28 days. If no request has been made to view or access footage during this 28 day period, the electronic media is destroyed.​

                      Audit Committee

                      At the commencement of the SCCP, the City of Melbourne established an external Audit Committee whose functions are to:

                      • provide an independent review and checking mechanism for the camera program that ensures that it meets the requirements of its Protocols and Operating Procedures

                      • promote public confidence in the camera program by ensuring its operations are transparent to the public and under ongoing independent scrutiny and review

                      • recommend action that will safeguard the camera program against abuse.

                      The operations of the camera program are examined by the Audit Committee to ensure that the use of the cameras

                      • continues to be for designated purposes only

                      • complies with the protocols and procedures

                      • does not compromise the privacy and rights of the general public through any unauthorised use.

                      The Audit Committee provides a written audit report to Council on an annual basis. This report evaluates the operations of the camera program and compliance with the Protocols and Operating Procedures. The Audit Committee’s past reports are provided below.

                      2021

                      SCCP Audit Committee Annual Audit Report 2021 (PDF 120 KB)
                      SSCP Audit Committee Annual  Audit Report 2021 (DOC 142 KB)

                      2020

                      SCCP Audit Committee Annual Audit Report 2020 (PDF 797 KB)
                      SSCP Audit Committee Annual  Audit Report 2020 (DOC 149 KB)

                      2019

                      SCCP Audit Committee Annual Audit Report 2019 (PDF 551 KB)
                      SSCP Audit Committee Annual  Audit Report 2019 (DOC 130 KB)

                      Making a formal complaint

                      If you believe the SCCP has been improperly used against you or someone you know, you can make a formal complaint in writing to:

                      ​Privacy Officer
                      Governance Services
                      City of Melbourne
                      PO Box 1603
                      Melbourne 3001.

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