Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) security, and (2) ethical, risks posed by the installation of 38 new CCTV cameras made by Chinese state-owned firm Hikvision as part of security arrangements for His Majesty the King's Coronation.

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was an historic and hugely important occasion, which brought hundreds of thousands of people out to the streets of London – and around the whole kingdom – to celebrate. To ensure that the event was safe and well-ordered, a number of services were sub-contracted, including the provision of additional CCTV where necessary. This was done to help manage crowds, ensuring the safety of the public along the Procession.

As is standard in commercial arrangements like this, HM Government was not asked to approve the use of specific cameras. These cameras were temporarily installed at street level along the route of the procession, and were removed immediately after the weekend of the Coronation. The cameras were not part of the security arrangements for the Coronation. The cameras were standalone CCTV cameras which were connected to a secure UK private event network which cannot be accessed or shared outside the country.