On 3 February 2026 the Portsmouth City Council Cabinet approved the “2026 CCTV & Digital Evidence Code of Practice,” a comprehensive overhaul of how the council operates and manages CCTV and digital evidence. The updated code sets out how video footage is collected, stored and shared to support public safety while aiming to protect residents’ and visitors’ privacy.
The rules cover a network of more than 1,000 public and housing-association cameras across the city, including Guildhall Square, Gunwharf Quays, Commercial Road and housing blocks in Somerstown. The code introduces mandatory Privacy Impact Assessments for any cameras or analytics capable of AI-driven facial recognition or gait analysis, requiring strict privacy review before deployment.
The policy mandates a centralized “Transparency Portal” where the council must publish the location of council-run cameras and the specific purpose for each installation (for example, crime prevention or traffic monitoring). Portsmouth’s existing CCTV web page already includes a map of camera locations; the new portal will centralize and expand that transparency.
Implementation is set for 1 April 2026. The Portsmouth CCTV Control Room and Hampshire Constabulary will be expected to follow the new standards from that date. The update follows the reinstatement of the national Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner in late 2025 and the new commissioner’s push for stronger local oversight.
City officials said the changes are timely as Portsmouth prepares for increased visitors during its bid to be UK City of Culture 2029. The council says the code aims to balance high-tech safety measures with protections for everyday privacy.
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