Middlesbrough Council traffic management services are looking to deploy Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
This is to analyse journey time data. It will also give up to date journey times through various variable message boards throughout Cleveland.
As part of this project, the service approached Cleveland Police. That was because of a joint interest in the data available from these additional resources.
The proposal is that the council and force share the data available from the extra ANPR cameras. In addition, the force would gain the added benefits from extra intelligence and an increase in the ANPR network.
Focus on Middlesbrough and A66
The project initially focuses on Middlesbrough and the A66 corridor. It could be expanded in future to other areas in Cleveland.
The project will initially deliver ANPR to 15 sites across Middlesbrough and the A66 corridor in eight areas, where ANPR is not currently deployed,.
A further two sites would be ‘fixed’ sites where there are currently temporary cameras. The remainder will be feeds for the Council only.
While initially these Council-only feeds will be included in police data, the Force will have the option to turn on/off dependent on crime trends and privacy impact assessments in year 2.
The service improvements to Cleveland Police include the following:
- Increased coverage in high risk areas where the Force have little or limited coverage;
- Efficiencies in not duplicating camera deployments between the Force and Council;
- Savings for Cleveland Police as the Council are funding the deployments.
The investment is expected to improve outcomes for the communities of Cleveland. This is due to the availability of extra data to the force to help prevent and detect crime.
For the Council, it will provide data to enable them to provide accurate and timely journey time data to residents. That will allow residents to use alternative routes and conduct better journey planning.
The proposal will cost £110k – all of which will be provided by the Council to the PCC. This will enable the PCC to support the investment.
If the PCC accepts the funds, it is proposed the Force order and purchase the cameras and ancillary equipment required and they are installed by a joint site visit between the Council and Force.
Data Protection Officers and Information Security Officers are engaged in the proposals and appropriate agreements will be drawn up between the two organisations, if approved.
The Council proposes to fund all cameras, cabling, microwave links and any ancillary equipment required. There should be no costs to the PCC/Cleveland Police by agreeing to this proposal.