A risk-based, five-year council CCTV plan gave a local council an objective way to prioritise sites, choose fit-for-purpose technology and budget for a staged rollout.
THE CHALLENGE
The council wanted to improve community safety across a large and varied local government area, respond to anti-social behaviour and protect high-value public assets, all within tight budgets and under close public scrutiny. It had recently adopted a public CCTV policy but had no structured framework for deciding where cameras should go, what technology suited each location or how to phase investment over time. Without an evidence-based method, there was a real risk of spending inefficiently, raising privacy concerns or buying technology that would date quickly. The council needed a defensible approach that supported its community safety goals and managed community expectations about privacy and surveillance.
OUR APPROACH
Agilient applied a five-phase methodology based on AS ISO 31000:2018 and SA HB 167, with reference to the AS 4806 series on CCTV management and application. Work began with consultation across council functions, including community safety, parks and asset management, to understand local concerns and operational requirements. Agilient then assessed priority public spaces and a number of new council-built assets on site, looking at the setting, existing infrastructure and specific vulnerabilities. A risk-based prioritisation matrix was developed so every candidate site could be ranked on the same criteria. The technology review compared fixed and pan-tilt-zoom cameras, solar-powered units, thermal imaging and licence plate recognition, weighing whole-of-life cost and fitness for purpose in each setting. Privacy and governance requirements were considered at every phase.
THE OUTCOME
The council received a prioritised plan that supports defensible CCTV investment decisions and future procurement.
- A staged five-year implementation schedule, with sites ranked through a risk-based prioritisation matrix
- High-level capital and operational budget estimates, with technology recommendations matched to different environments
- A governance framework for managing an expanded CCTV network in line with privacy requirements and the council’s public CCTV policy
Related services: independent CCTV consultant, security risk assessment consultants, government security consultant. To discuss a similar project, contact Agilient.