In recent years, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance monitoring has become the need of the hour in urban areas. Accordingly, cities seek to enhance public safety and security to maintain law and order, improve traffic management and attain faster turnaround time for crime resolution and investigations. City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has prepared a code of conduct for CCTV monitoring in Navi Mumbai to keep a tab on troublemakers at public places vulnerable to crime. Majorly Entry and Exit points of the City/Toll Nakas, Important Chowks, Traffic Junctions, Important Road Stretches (accident-prone areas), Railway Station Entry/Exit, Vital installations in the city, etc. to be covered under the same.

Applicability:-

• Public institutions (Electricity Board, Collectorate, Railways and Religious places etc.)
• Shops and Establishments (like Gold Shops, Restaurants, Real Estate Agency, etc.)
• Malls, Cinema Halls, Hotels, Schools, Hospitals, etc.
• Housing Societies
• Industrial Units, Godowns / Warehouses, IT Firms & Other Commercial Establishments in Navi Mumbai area.

Key Principles

• All the Private / Public institutions in Navi Mumbai to submit the information about their CCTV System to Navi Mumbai Police in Annexure (CCTV System Information Form) reported to the Police immediately on installation of cctv system or any security breach or any criminal incidence.
• Establishments to ensure placement of the CCTV cameras to cover all the areas of vulnerability. It is important that sensitive and critical areas to be covered with proper angle and visibility, so that the CCTV feeds give the clear picture of the activity and identify individuals.
• To ensure data protection by preserving recorded videos, Access to stored feed to be limited to authorised person only.
• Establishment to document periodic review and assessment of CCTV system for management verification and use empanelment of firms undertaken by Navi Mumbai police to carry out third party audit / assessment.
• To maintain individual privacy and to clearly display that “The Area is under Video Surveillance” along with name and number of authority to be contacted in case of any complain.
• CCTV systems to always be used for specified and legitimate aim and necessary to meet an identified need.

Conclusion

This Voluntary Code of Practice represents an overall guidance to all the stakeholders – Police, Municipal Corporation, CIDCO, other Public Institutions and Private Institutions, on the appropriate and effective use of surveillance camera systems by relevant authorities. It intents to offer help create a safer and more trusting environment for all residents. As technology continues to evolve, ongoing dialogue and adaptation of these practices will be essential to meet the changing needs of the community.

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LLM, BA LLB Meghna Anand