Introduction and Purpose
This policy guides the operation, use and management of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system at Wesley College, Melbourne and includes all Wesley College sites.
Wesley College has an obligation to ensure the school environment is a stable, safe and secure teaching and learning environment for all members of the College community and that the College fulfills its duty of care to students, staff, parents, visitors and contractors.
Wesley College also has an obligation to protect the physical infrastructure and assets of the College. The CCTV system exists to assist the College fulfil these obligations.
This policy is produced in accordance with relevant Wesley College policies and state and federal legislation.
Use of CCTV
Consistent with the College’s obligations set out above, Wesley College may use CCTV cameras in relation to anyone on or adjacent to its sites (including students, staff, visitors or members of the public) to:
- Act as a deterrent to reduce potential vandalism, theft and trespass
- Deter misconduct, criminal or inappropriate behaviour
- Assist in verifying and/or investigating any such conduct or other incidents on college sites to support an evidence-based response. Such incidents may include incidents in which a person has sustained injury, loss or damage on college premises.
- Provide visual coverage during emergency situations.
Ownership of CCTV system footage
Wesley College Melbourne is the controller or owner of all CCTV systems across all College sites and owns any data, such as film footage or recordings (“footage”) gained from such systems on College sites.
CCTV Operations
Signs indicating that the premises are under video surveillance are displayed and placed at various locations at the College at the discretion of the Principal or the Principal’s delegate.
There is no CCTV coverage in toilets, showers, changing rooms or other areas where it is unlawful to do so or the College regards individual privacy as paramount.
The placement of all security cameras will be reviewed periodically to ensure that the scope of the images captured is appropriate.
Access to CCTV footage
Subject to this policy, access to CCTV footage is limited to authorised College personnel as determined by the College Principal or delegate, such as the Wesley College Security Team.
The access, monitoring and retrieval of CCTV footage in operational terms, falls within the responsibility of the Wesley College Security Team.
Access to CCTV footage by relevant staff to view incidents involving student behaviour, or other incidents involving College facilities and sites, is determined by the College Principal or the Principal’s delegate.
Access or copies of any footage may also be provided where required by law or where approved by the College Principal (or their delegate), to relevant Government or semi-government bodies (such as police or emergency services), the College’s legal or professional advisers or the College’s insurers.
To the extent permitted by law, the College will keep a written record of requests for CCTV Footage in accordance with College’s records management obligations.
Requests for access or copies of any footage – including under applicable privacy legislation - must be made in writing to the College Principal.
Sharing CCTV footage with staff, students and/or parents involved in the incidents
At times, footage may be shown to staff, students and/or parents directly involved in an incident on Wesley College sites.
The sharing of such footage will be at the discretion of the Principal or the Principal’s delegate.
Copies of footage will not be provided to staff, students or parents.
Installation and maintenance of CCTV systems
An approved and licensed external contractor is engaged at the determination of the College Principal or the Principal’s delegate to install and maintain all College CCTV systems.
Storage of CCTV footage
Any CCTV footage retained by the College is done so on internal College site servers. Whether footage is retained depends on the type of camera – for example, whether a camera is a constantly recording camera (typically retained), or a motion sensor camera (typically not retained). Footage will be only retained for as long as is reasonably required and will be periodically destroyed or deleted by the College at such intervals as agreed by the College Principal or the Principal’s delegate.
Breach of this Policy
Non-compliance with this Policy by employees, contractors, and volunteers will be regarded as a very serious matter and may constitute:
- a breach of employment obligations
- serious misconduct
- a criminal offence
- exposure to legal liability
Appropriate action in response to a breach of this policy by an employee(s) may include termination ofemployment.
Related Policies
Related Legislation
- Victorian Privacy Act 2014
- Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
