Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for the mandatory 30-day retention of CCTV footage from train and bus services.

The Department for Transport refers transport operators to the Information Commissioner’s Office code of practice on matters of CCTV surveillance. This code includes guidance on data retention. It does not prescribe any specific minimum or maximum retention period, but rather states that retention should reflect the organisation’s purposes for recording the information and how long it is needed to achieve this purpose. The guidance also notes that the data should not be kept for longer than is necessary, and should be the shortest period necessary to the organisation’s purpose.

The Rail Delivery Group guidance to industry on CCTV recommends that data should be retained for 31 days, as requested by British Transport Police. DfT’s bus and coach security guidance also recommends a 31 day retention period.

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s office is responsible for providing advice on the effective, appropriate, proportionate and transparent use of surveillance camera systems.