The University of Otago made a complaint to Critic Magazine that the article published on the University's CCTV implementation plan was not fairly reported. As a result, Critic provided this space for the University to respond to these issues.
The University of Otago is seeking student feedback on its CCTV camera proposal by 5pm, Friday 4 August.
“We’ve worked with OUSA on an approach where you can tell us what you think directly, or through OUSA, and together we’ll consider your feedback,” says University Deputy Proctor Andy Ferguson.
Please provide your feedback by 5pm, Friday 4 August.
Proposal Details
The University is serious about the safety of our students, staff, and visitors on and around campus.
Over the past few years we have experienced a worrying increase in non-students coming into student areas around campus and crimes occurring. Police reported a spate of at least 12 flat break-ins in the student quarter on 10-11 June.
Installing CCTV cameras in the public streets around campus is a visible deterrent, and provides us with physical evidence to help prosecute offenders.
The proposal is for cameras to be installed in 60 locations on the boundaries of the main campus and onto existing poles in public streets. This would be extra to CCTV cameras already in 400 locations within University buildings and on campus. Audio recording would not be possible.
Cameras would be installed in two stages: stage one in about 30 locations north, covering Castle, Leith and Dundas – and south of campus (Frederick, Leith, Grange and Albany).
If successful, stage two would include Clyde, Union and Dundas – and to the west of the campus, George, Queen, Albany, Park and some surrounding streets.
We are in discussions with the Dunedin City Council about consent requirements. No resource consent application has been lodged at this stage.
Privacy
Student privacy is paramount. The University’s Privacy Officer would, on behalf of students, ensure there is a CCTV policy that protects students’ legal and privacy rights. Existing University policies, such as the Ethical Behaviour Policy, would also apply.
The University is drafting a CCTV policy to cover cameras on all campuses, placing privacy at centre. OUSA are providing feedback. You can also provide feedback on this. The general provisions are:
- Software within the cameras allows private areas to be blacked out. The University’s Privacy Officer would verify these are in place.
- Only approved staff would have permission to monitor live and/or recorded footage, receiving technical, legal and ethics training first.
- Recorded footage would be kept for 30 days then overwritten, with servers holding footage housed securely.
- Police could request footage in connection with ongoing criminal investigations using a Production Order, Search Warrant or Privacy Act Information Request.
- Requests for recorded footage from students, staff or other agencies would only be considered following a Request to Review CCTV Footage form. Approval would only be given in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993 and other relevant legislation.
- Full records, staff logs, records of footage requests and actions would be kept securely with the Proctor.
Consultation
You can provide feedback by emailing us at cctv.project@otago.ac.nz, or email, phone, or share online with OUSA. We will meet with OUSA Executive to discuss the proposal on 24 July. More information about how you can contribute to the consultation process can be found at http://www.otago.ac.nz/studentservices/otago655322.html
A joint University/OUSA working party will consider all feedback and present findings to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne so that she can make a decision in August.