Homeless people counted by CCTV

Surveillance powers intended to protect privacy and combat crime are being used to count the numbers of people living on a city's streets.

Cambridge City Council has carried out a review to justify using CCTV cameras to monitor homeless people.

A spokesman said CCTV cameras set up around the city were used but this did not count as covert surveillance.

Simon Pugh, the city's head of legal services, said counting was done using the CCTV network not covert cameras.

"When we counted the number of people begging, we were not gathering personal information on them. We were doing no more than counting.

"We also had staff in the city centre helping with the count late at night and part of what we were trying to do was ensure staff safety.

Numbers recorded

"However, this was a non-routine use of the CCTV system and so, to ensure that it was properly considered, we went through the official RIPA authorisation procedure.

"The city council is very mindful of the need to use 'surveillance powers' only when they are clearly justified.

"We fully support the message from the Local Government Association that it is not appropriate to use RIPA powers to investigate trivial matters, and have not done so.

"However, the city council has an obligation to take measures to tackle serious crime and disorder and sometimes covert evidence-gathering is needed to take action against the perpetrators of criminal behaviour," he said.

"We have used the CCTV system on three occasions to record the number of people begging in the city centre and have worked with the Police to reduce the numbers.

"The cameras are visible and we were not gathering personal information on people begging - we were doing no more than counting."