CCTV systems and registers

Privately owned CCTV systems

Victoria Police does not provide advice on CCTV systems.

It is recommended that households or businesses seek advice from a security expert and refer to the Victorian State Government Community Crime Prevention - CCTV Resources.

CCTV registers

There is no mandatory or centralised CCTV register for privately owned household or business CCTV systems in Victoria. However some police stations may have their own localised registers.

Council CCTV systems

The use of CCTV is recognised as a beneficial tool in supporting policing functions that seek to manage high crime locations and matters of public order.

We welcome the opportunity to work with local councils in establishing public area CCTV programs where there is a demonstrated need to do so.

Victoria Police has successfully partnered with a number of local councils in such arrangements which have provided significant benefits to local communities.

Council CCTV system and the police

The establishment of this type of program requires careful consideration from a policing perspective.

Victoria Police has outlined below how they can contribute to the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of CCTV initiatives.

We highly recommend referring to the Community Crime Prevention - CCTV Resources.

We encourage councils engaging private security advisers and installers of security equipment to request verification of a current registration with Victoria Police via Private Security Registration.

Establishing a CCTV program with Victoria Police

The below steps will assist when establishing a CCTV program with Victoria Police.

Key principles

The following principles must be considered prior to establishing a CCTV program with Victoria Police.

• Victoria Police is not responsible for the establishment, repair, replacement, maintenance, operation or funding for the operation of the CCTV program.
• Victoria Police involvement in a CCTV program will be to a level that its local resources and priorities allow.
• Victoria Police will not constantly monitor a CCTV system. The MOU will describe the circumstances under which monitoring may be conducted.
• Victoria Police must have the ability to access and download footage in accordance with protocols referenced in the MOU.
• Victoria Police will coordinate training of local police in their responsibilities in relation to the CCTV program as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and Victoria Police Policies.

Victoria Police will determine the appropriate level and priority of responses required to incidents according to availability of resources and existing priorities.

How to establish a CCTV system with Victoria Police

A CCTV proposal should show the reasons for wanting to establish a CCTV system and define the objectives of having such a system.

We recommend that councils engage their Victoria Police Local Area Commander into their working group to help in this activity. They will have an understanding of the type and extent of public safety and criminal activity in the area.

You can get in touch with your Local Area Commander through your local police station.

Letters of support

The Department of Justice and Regulation requires that council applications that request funding for CCTV projects include a letter of support from the relevant Victoria Police Local Area Commander.

If it is proposed that Victoria Police will have a role in the monitoring or storage of CCTV footage, the letter of support must also confirm this role.

Local Area Commanders are only able to provide this letter of support if they believe that CCTV is justified based on the type and number of offences at proposed CCTV sites taking into consideration the introduction of any alternative crime prevention approaches.

Obtaining a statistical baseline

Crime statistics for the area councils wish to focus on may be required in order to support a CCTV proposal.

Statistics may also help councils to evaluate the effectiveness of the CCTV implementation on an ongoing basis.

Statistical information is available from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).

Fit-for-purpose solutions

In order to facilitate the use of CCTV footage for incident monitoring and evidentiary purposes, there are technical standards and logistical aspects to consider.

Advice from security experts is highly recommended.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

An approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be in place in order for the police members to have the direct access to footage, or where equipment is installed within police premises.

Victoria Police have developed an MOU template to assist in formalising CCTV arrangements with local government councils, police or statutory authorities.

To request a copy of the template, please complete the following form online.

Public access to CCTV footage

Under the Victorian Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the general public has the right to request access to documents, including CCTV footage, held by Victorian public sector agencies.

This right of access is subject to limited exceptions and exemptions. To learn more about Freedom of Information and how to make a request, refer to our Freedom of information page.