Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police jointly operate a public space CCTV scheme in Oxford. The system is managed in line with guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner.
Our CCTV service supports the ongoing aim of making Oxford a safer place to live, work and visit. CCTV plays a key role in the prevention and detection of crime and anti-social behaviour within public spaces.
How CCTV supports public safety
CCTV can:
- assist in detecting crime and anti-social behaviour
- provide evidential footage for criminal investigations and court proceedings
- enable monitoring of incidents as they occur
- support the identification of missing persons and other public safety concerns
Where CCTV is installed
Oxford City Council is responsible for public space CCTV cameras located across the city, including:
- Oxford City Centre
- East Oxford
- Rose Hill
- Blackbird Leys
- Wood Farm
- Jericho
- Barton
- Oxford Covered Market
Download maps showing the locations of Oxford public space cameras.
In addition, Oxford City Council’s Housing Services maintain CCTV systems within communal areas of residential properties, including the city's tower blocks, to support the safety of residents.
CCTV monitoring
CCTV images from our permanent public space CCTV units are transmitted to a secure monitoring suite operated by Thames Valley Police. Footage is monitored and recorded by trained police staff.
Recordings are typically retained for 30 days before being automatically deleted. Footage may be retained for longer where it is required for an ongoing investigation.
Data protection and privacy
Thames Valley Police act as the data controller for Oxford’s public space CCTV footage.
The use of CCTV is governed by the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
This means that:
- CCTV is used only for legitimate purposes, such as crime prevention, public safety and law enforcement
- access to footage is strictly controlled and limited to authorised personnel
- personal data is handled securely and retained only for as long as necessary
- appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the rights and privacy of individuals
Requesting CCTV footage
Thames Valley Police are the data controller for public space CCTV footage. Access to images is strictly controlled and only provided in limited circumstances.
Criminal and anti-social behaviour investigations
For the investigation of crime or anti-social behaviour:
- access to CCTV footage is restricted to the police or authorised local authority officers
- Thames Valley Police authorised local authority officers have established procedures in place to review and obtain footage where required
Subject Access Requests
You may request footage of yourself under a Subject Access Request (SAR).
Please note:
- footage will only be released where you can be identified
- third-party individuals will only be disclosed where appropriate and lawful, which may include obtaining consent or redacting identities
To submit a request, visit the Request information pages on the Thames Valley Police website.
Freedom of Information requests
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities, promoting openness, accountability and public understanding of how services such as CCTV are managed.
Under an FOI request, individuals can request non-personal information about the CCTV system.
To submit an FOI request, visit the Request information pages on the Thames Valley Police website.
