CCTV
What is CCTV?
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is a television system which operates on a "closed loop" basis.
Unlike broadcast television which is available to anyone with a suitable receiver, CCTV pictures are only available to those directly connected to the loop, which in Torfaen's case is the central monitoring control room.
The loop is a physical link consisting of a fibre optic cable which carries the picture from the camera to a monitor.
CCTV plays a major role in making Torfaen safer, helping to provide evidence where a crime has been committed and ultimately to reduce crime where cameras are operational.
The Scheme aims to:
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Assist in the detection and prevention of crime
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Provide evidential material to assist Police investigations
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Deter those having criminal intent
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Reduce the fear of crime and give confidence to the public that they are in a secure environment
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Provide safer communities
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Reduce acts of vandalism
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Assist in the prevention and detection of antisocial behaviour
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Reduce vehicle related crime
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Assist with traffic management
Does it Work?
The success of CCTV in reducing incidents of crime and disorder and the fear of crime in the areas covered has been marked.
From research on crime and disorder it is clear that CCTV has also contributed to reducing the fear of crime and increasing the perception of security in the areas covered by the cameras.
Significant investment on CCTV has taken place within the borough and has produced results.
How many cameras are there?
Presently we have 122 cameras:
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Blaenavon - 12
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Garndiffaith - 1
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Trevethin - 2
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Pontypool Town Centre - 8 ( more imminent)
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Riverside Car Park - 7 (more imminent)
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Ty Glyn Pontypool - 8
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Griffithstown - 3
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Woodlands School Thornhill Cwmbran - 3
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Thornhill Community Centre - 10
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Greenmeadow Community Farm - 7
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Hollybush Integrated Children's Centre - 4
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Nant Celyn School - 14
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Civic Centre - 14
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New Inn TCBC Depot - 5
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The Life Station Trevethin - 9
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Gilchrist Industrial Estate - 4
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Penygarn School - 2
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Blenheim School - 2
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Pontypool Active Living Centre - 7
What is the process?
All data is recorded 24/7, on to a Computer Digital Systems hard drive, which is written over every 31 days, unless specifically saved into a specially devised Evidence Locker, where it remains until it is totally deleted, when no longer required, by the police, for evidential use.
There is a facility for producing still images also on this Digital System.
Any transactions, on the system are recorded and reports of all system features can be obtained, by the CCTV Supervisor/Manager.
When evidence of an incident is saved and then burnt to a DVD for the police, a report of all relevant data that accompanies it, is stored by the system. This is then printed for the police to be used as an evidence trail in court.
CCTV has to be compliant with all the relative legislation.
All new CCTV installations are subject to submission of a formal Business Case, which aims to provide the reasons why CCTV monitoring is required. Each Business Case will be submitted to our Legal Department and our Information Security Team to ensure compliance with statutory guidelines and legislative compliance.