Dartford's CCTV system became operational in October 1996 with 21 cameras covering the Town Centre.
Within the first year of operation, the police reported a 33% reduction in crime.
Following a successful Home Office bid, the system was then extended to include A226, Temple Hill and Alamein Gardens and Dartford became the first in Kent to move to complete digital recording in the spring of 2006.
As a fully generic system, the scheme now boasts some 54 cameras with the most recent installations being three new anti-vandal domes covering the recently developed Princes Tunnels. All of these permanent camera locations are linked directly via the very latest state of the art fibre optic telemetry.
The CCTV Control Room staff also have access to three Stryker deployable cameras that can be placed in various locations throughout the borough with live pictures beamed back via the mobile 3G network.
Dartford's CCTV system became operational in October 1996 with 21 cameras covering the Town Centre and within the first year of operation, the police reported a 33% reduction in crime.
The Council have continued to improve and increase coverage which has been extended to include a wider coverage of the Town Centre, A226, Temple Hill and Alamein Gardens. In 2021 our system now boasts some 79 cameras with the most recent installations being on the redevelopment of the Acacia Hall site and Town Centre.
All of the permanent camera locations are linked directly via the very latest state of the art line of sight and fibre optic telemetry to Dartford Borough Council's newly built and relocated CCTV Control Room in April 2021.
In addition to permanent cameras, the CCTV department also has access to seven rapidly deployable cameras that can be placed in various locations throughout the borough with live pictures beamed back via the mobile 4G network.
As part of Dartford Borough Council's Community Safety Unit and working closely with Kent Police, Metropolitan Police, London Transport Police and the Retail Security Group DTAC, the aim is to reduce crime within the Town Centre and surrounding areas and provide a safer environment for residents, visitors and traders alike.
The operating principles of Dartford Borough Council's CCTV system is governed by its Codes Of Practice. Please follow this link if you are wish to view the Code.
Digital footage is retained for at least 31 days (unless part of an ongoing investigation) and can only be requested by the Police, partner organisations or a via a subject access request.
Insurance companies can obtain copies of footage upon request and payment of a fee. The cost of reviewing our footage records and providing a digital copy of relevant footage (if available) is £66.50. If you are an insurance company and would like to request a CCTV footage. You will need to pay via a credit/debit card.
Body Worn Cameras:
The Council uses body worn cameras for its enforcement activities and for its staff’s personal safety and welfare. The recordings provide video and audio evidence of interactions between its staff, its contractors and members of the public. All recordings are incident specific. Clear signage is displayed, for example on an individual’s uniform, to show that recording is taking place and whether the recording includes audio.
Our CCTV and body worn cameras are overt methods implemented to promote public reassurance, capture best evidence, modify behaviour, prevent harm and deter people from committing crime and/or engaging in anti-social behaviour. More information on the use of body worn cameras is included within the Body Worn Video Policy.