Closed circuit television policy

Guidelines

Register

Headings for the register will be as follows –

  • Owner
  • Location
  • Hours of operation
  • Installation date
  • Review date
  • Removal date
  • Recordings storage
  • Persons authorized to view recordings

The register will be made available to the Student Union Council (SUC) and the Personal Safety and Security Committee upon request, which will be viewed at the Security Office on each campus during business hours.

The register will include installations existing before March 2001.

Use and management of recordings

CCTV recordings and their contents must not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those specified in the CCTV policy.

All recordings and their contents are the copyrighted property of RMIT University and shall not be copied, distributed or used for any broadcast, performance or publication without the express written direction of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources), except when such actions are taken by the Police in conjunction with Police investigations or Police criminal prosecutions.

The Security Manager, Facilities Services Branch will have access to recordings and has the right to control, view, hold, store and dispose of recordings in accordance with this Policy.

Security or area nominee will be responsible for monitoring the recordings in real time and in review.

Footage that seems to depict unlawful behaviour will be referred to the Security Branch for action within 1 month.

Unless otherwise instructed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources) recordings not required for ongoing investigations, or as a record to substantiate University decisions, must be erased after one month. Copies of recordings will not be made unless they are relevant to the purpose of the surveillance. Recordings will not be made available for civil proceedings involving third parties except where required by law.

Recordings will be disposed of after a 1 month time frame, being:

1. Recorded over

2. Destroyed

3. In case of criminal activity, handed over to police

4. Erased

Circumstances under which image recordings will be shown to a third party:

1. Unlawful act (Police)

2. Occupational Health and Safety complaints (relevant judicial authority)

3. Other (to meet any legal requirement, e.g., Court order, etc)

Positioning of a CCTV camera

Once a case has been made and accepted for installation of a CCTV camera, it shall only to be sited in the physical area nominated by the CCTV registration process, based on the guidelines accompanying this Policy.

Areas where students and staff could reasonably expect complete privacy will not be the subject of CCTV monitoring except under specific instruction from police or an authorized law enforcement agency, for example, but not limited to, toilet and shower cubicles, private offices, etc.

Fake video cameras or housing shall not be used unless part of a documented rotational program of video monitoring in compliance with the relevant regulations.

Informing stakeholders

Security must advise staff in writing regarding installation of a CCTV camera at least six weeks in advance (unless there is a pressing need that has been documented, i.e. specific unlawful acts being committed in an area).

In all University areas where CCTV monitoring occurs signs must be displayed indicating that an area may be monitored. It is mandatory to comply with signage requirements under relevant Acts and regulations. Signage is the process to inform all parties of CCTV installation. The location of signs will be in accordance with the Act.

Signs indicating that, “an area is monitored by CCTV” shall not be erected, or be allowed to remain erected, in an area unless the area is actually being so monitored. Signs stating an area “may be monitored by CCTV” can remain.

CCTV monitoring

This policy limits monitoring of CCTV to a nominated position.

Temporary CCTVs

The duration of any temporary CCTV monitoring is limited to a nominated time period where a case is made within this Policy and is recorded in the register.

Protecting privacy

CCTV camera operators must not zoom in or pry into a person’s activities, or otherwise abuse the privacy of students and staff.

Where the operation of CCTV is contrary to the Policy, complaints will be dealt with under RMIT policies and procedures.

Appropriate signage must be installed advising CCTV is operational, i.e. on external buildings and in internal areas where CCTV is to operate.

A nominated person from the Student Union Council and Personal Safety and Security Committee may view recordings on request.

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