About us
The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's role is to encourage compliance with the surveillance camera code of practice.
The Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material (“Biometrics Commissioner”) and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner are statutory roles which were established by the Protection of the Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA).
Responsibilities
The two posts are currently carried out by one full time Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner whose role is to:
- keep under review the retention and use by the police of DNA samples, DNA profiles and fingerprints.
- decide applications by the police to retain DNA profiles and fingerprints (under section 63G of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984)
- review national security determinations which are made or renewed by the police in connection with the retention of DNA profiles and fingerprints
- provide reports to the Home Secretary about the carrying out of his functions
- encourage compliance with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice
- review how the code is working
- provide advice to ministers on whether or not the code needs amending
The commissioner is independent of government. The commissioner has no enforcement or inspection powers regarding surveillance cameras and works with relevant authorities to make them aware of their duty to have regard to the code.
Contact information
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
2 Marsham Street
1st Floor, Peel
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Email: enquiries@obscc.org.uk
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