Publication scheme

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner's publication scheme makes information available to the public about how it operates and how it spends its budget.


This publication scheme is provided pursuant to section 19(4) Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) and follows the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner’s Office. It describes the information which the SCC will make available to the public as part of normal business activities.

Information published under this scheme will be displayed on the SCC’s website.

Other information may be made available upon request. Such requests should be made to the Head of Policy and Support by email to the following address: scc@sccomissioner.gov.uk

Alternatively, requests may be made by post to:

Surveillance Camera Commissioner
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption and the latest advice from the government, all urgent correspondence should be sent by email to scc@sccommissioner.gov.uk until further notice.

We are currently unable to collect correspondence by post.

Who we are and what we do

This information is provided on the SCC website.

What we spend and how we spend it

The annual budget of the SCC is £305,000. This allocation funds the salary of the SCC and 4 members of staff at a cost of £255,000.

A further budget allocation of £50,000 is made to accommodate costs associated with travel, accommodation, speaking engagements and activities undertaken within the framework of the national Surveillance Camera Strategy.

Tendering, procurements and contracts are undertaken within Home Office rules.

What our priorities are and how we are doing

The priorities of the SCC are provided by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and at paragraph 5.1 of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice (the Code). They are as follows:

  1. To encourage compliance with the Code.
  2. To review the operation of the Code.
  3. To provide advice about the Code including changes to it.

You can read the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

To meet his responsibilities, the SCC has introduced the National Surveillance Camera Strategy (NSCS) which sets out his key objectives and deliverables against time bound milestones.

The Commissioner is also required to produce an annual report to the Home Secretary which is laid before Parliament before being published in the public domain.

Surveillance Camera Commissioner: annual report 2018 to 2019

How we make decisions

The Commissioner is appointed by but independent of government. He is independent of the Home Office. He consults widely with the surveillance camera stakeholder community including private industry, public bodies, civil libertarian experts, the public and fellow regulators.

He is supported by an independent advisory council which provides support and guidance to him in identifying issues which should be considered by him and they assist with his decision making.

The Commissioner consults widely and engages in public debate using social media feeds, namely Twitter and LinkedIn. Additionally his speeches and content which he feels should be made public are posted on his public-facing website.

The Commissioner is supported by a team of 4 members of staff. They are as follows:

  • Head of Policy and Support (Grade 7)
  • Deputy Head of Policy and Support (SEO)
  • Policy Officer (HEO)
  • Research and Support Officer (EO)

The SCC team provide support to the SCC in facilitating support to the Commissioner’s day-to-day responsibilities.

Our policies and procedures

All policies and procedures governing the work of the SCC team are those provided by the Home Office. The SCC team fall within the Home Office Science Secretariat, Pathology, Regulation and Services (HOSSPRS). A quarterly report is provided to the Head of HOSSPRS setting out performance against budget allocation for internal scrutiny within the Home Office.

Lists and registers

The SCC supports the provision of independent certification bodies who may assist organisations achieve industry standard certification of their compliance with the provisions of the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

Guidance can be found about the Surveillance camera code of practice: third party certification scheme.

The services we offer

In addition to providing support to the Commissioner, the SCC team will provide guidance in respect of any matter which is the regulatory responsibility of the SCC and support the facilitation of the NSCS.

The SCC team will maintain a public-facing internet site with relevant information for the public and wider stakeholder community. The link to the SCC site appears above.

Information is also provided in the news media and on the social media blog.

Charges which may be made for information will be published under this scheme.

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information available at minimum inconvenience or cost to the public.

Charges may be made for the publication of SCC material by exception and in accordance with Home Office rules.

Material which is published and accessed on a website will be usually be provided free of charge as indeed will the provision of information readily available and not involving disproportionate effort in accordance with the FOIA and Home Office rules.

Further information regarding these matters may be provided upon request to scc@sccomissioner.gov.uk.