Letter to the third party certification certified bodies
Published 21 November 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letters-on-the-closure-of-the-third-party-certification-scheme/letter-to-the-third-party-certification-certified-bodies
Professor William Webster
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
19 November 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/biometrics-and-surveillance-camera-commissioner
You may be aware that I was appointed Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, after a 12-month hiatus with no Surveillance Camera Commissioner in post. My focus will be to oversee police applications to retain biometric material and the evolution of, and adherence to, the Home Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice as the future regulatory landscape of these areas is reviewed by the government.
I’m writing to you today to formally announce the permanent closure of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Third Party Certification (TPC) scheme, with immediate effect.
I understand that extension certificates were issued by my office to your organisation, which tied expiry to the commencement of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, as that Bill would have abolished the role of the Commissioner, and the Code of Practice.
However, when the General Election was called in 2024, the DPDI Bill did not complete its passage through Parliament. That has resulted in a small number of organisations, such as yours, retaining certification against the scheme in perpetuity.
I have therefore made the decision to close the scheme entirely; my predecessor having spoken to the accreditation bodies about the possibility previously. Given the passage of time since audits have taken place, I have concerns over how this impacts the integrity of the scheme. I am committed to encouraging adherence to the code while I am Commissioner, but while the longer-term future of the commissioner role and code of practice remain unresolved by the government (a Home Office consultation on facial recognition technology and oversight more broadly is expected to launch in the coming weeks), I consider it unwise to resurrect the scheme when alternative accreditation is available for those who seek it.
I would therefore request you remove all mention of certification under the scheme from your branding and communications. I trust you understand this decision.
Yours sincerely,
Professor William Webster
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
Email: enquiries@obscc.org.uk