It is the commissioner’s strategic vision to ensure the public are assured that any use of surveillance camera systems in a public place helps to protect and keep them safe, while respecting the individual’s right to privacy. That assurance is based upon deployment which is proportionate to a legitimate purpose, and transparency which demonstrates compliance with best and good practice and relevant legal obligations.

The strategy aligns closely to the Home Office responsibilities to keep the UK safe from the threat of terrorism and to reduce and prevent crime and ensure people feel safe in their homes and communities.

The strategy will provide the commissioner with a robust and transparent framework to fulfil his statutory functions as set out in the Protection of Freedoms Act, informing his annual report to the Home Secretary.

Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter said: "After a year of hard work I’m delighted to be able to launch this strategy. It’s a strategy that is far reaching, touching on many areas of surveillance camera use – police and local authority, installers and manufacturers, training providers and regulators – and of course how the use of surveillance cameras impacts members of the public.

The responses to the consultation on the draft show that this strategy is extremely well supported as do the number of organisations that have written to me to show their support. I look forward to delivering on this for the next 3 years ensuring that where surveillance cameras are used they keep people safe whilst protecting their right to privacy."

The BSIA has released a statement saying that it fully supports and endorses this new strategy.  Chairman of the BSIA’s CCTV section and Lead of the Industry Strand of the national surveillance camera strategy for England and Wales, Simon Adcock, commented: "The strategy represents an opportunity for the industry – through working with the Commissioner – to assure the public that video surveillance systems are being used in public spaces legitimately, responsibly and transparently, in order to keep them safe. The strategy is fully supported by members of the BSIA’s CCTV section and we look forward to seeing the strategy delivered through to 2020.”