CCTV in Oxford

CCTV is a significant tool in the fight against crime in Oxford. The impact of CCTV can help detect crime, as well as identifying missing persons and other public safety issues.

Who manages CCTV in Oxford?

Oxford has CCTV cameras managed by Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police.

Oxford University also has an extensive CCTV system.

Where and how many cameras are there in Oxford?

The cameras in Oxford can be found in the following places:

• 42 in Oxford City Centre
• 26 around Park and Ride sites
• 2 at Blackbird Leys
• 3 on Cowley Road
• 2 at Rose Hill
• 1 at Wood Farm
• 2 at Barton
• 26 cameras in total, in four City Council tower blocks.

A total of 104 cameras are monitored by the team in the CCTV suite at the St Aldate's Police Station.

Oxford University has 99 cameras. They cover a large part of Oxford, in the areas where the City Centre CCTV system has little or no coverage.

Who monitors the CCTV cameras?

All images from the City Council cameras are fed back to a secure monitoring suite in St Aldate's Police station where they are recorded and monitored around the clock by a dedicated team of 7 staff. The staff are employed jointly by Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police.

During 2008 the equipment in the monitoring suite was upgraded from analogue to digital.

Oxford University cameras are controlled from a 24-hour control room in the University's Science area. The University CCTV system works in partnership with the City centre CCTV system and is linked by camera and radio.

Who provides the CCTV cameras?

Oxford City Council provides the CCTV equipment for the city and is supported by their maintenance contractor, Quadrant, who are one of the largest CCTV companies in the UK and are members of the British Security Industry Association. The City Council is also supported by their retained consultants, Optimum who advise on equipment and development of the CCTV system.

How can I request an image from a CCTV camera?

You have a right to be told whether any personal data is held about you. You also have a right to a copy of that information in a permanent form except where the supply of such a copy is not possible or would involve disproportionate effort, or if you agree otherwise. Oxford City Council will only give that information if it is satisfied as to your identity.

Oxford City Council may deny access to information where exemptions allow. The main exemptions in relation to information held on the CCTV system are where the information may be held for:

• Prevention and detection of crime
• Apprehension and prosecution of offenders

A fee of £10 is payable for each access request, which must be in pounds sterling, cheques, postal orders etc. and should be made payable to Oxford City Council.

Please submit your request, in writing to saferoxford@oxford.gov.uk or write to Nightsafe Manager, Community Safety Team, 2nd Floor, St Aldate's Chambers, 109 St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DS.

Page last reviewed 6 March 2012