Who we are and how to contact us
Portsmouth City Council (“the Council”, “we”, “us”) is the data controller for the personal information described in this notice.
- Data Controller: Portsmouth City Council
- ICO Registration Number: Z5578313
- Address: Civic Offices, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL
If you have questions about this notice or how your information is used, you can contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer:
- Email: dataprotection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
- Telephone: 023 9282 2251
This is a service‑specific privacy notice and should be read alongside the Council’s general privacy notice, which explains how we process personal data across all Council services.
What this privacy notice covers
This notice explains how we collect and use personal information when you are involved with the Council’s:
- Anti‑Social Behaviour (ASB) services
- Housing‑related enforcement activity
- CCTV and Body Worn Camera (BWC) systems
This may include residents, tenants, visitors, complainants, witnesses, and other individuals captured in CCTV or body‑worn footage.
The personal information we collect
Depending on the circumstances, we may collect and process:
- Identity and contact details – such as name, address, telephone number and email address
- Images and video recordings – including CCTV and Body Worn Camera footage
- Date of birth (where required to confirm identity)
- Household and family information – where relevant to an ASB investigation
- Health information – including mental or physical health details, where relevant and lawful
- Housing, safeguarding or support needs
- Communications with us – such as letters, emails, and call records
- Information from third parties – for example, police, health professionals, other councils or partner agencies
- Emergency or next‑of‑kin contact details, where you have provided them
Some of this information may be special category data or criminal offence data, which we process only where the law allows and with appropriate safeguards in place.
Why we use your information and our lawful basis
We use personal information to:
- Prevent, investigate and respond to anti‑social behaviour
- Support residents and tenants who are affected by ASB
- Manage and protect Council‑managed housing and neighbourhoods
- Help ensure the safety of residents, staff and the wider public
- Detect, prevent and investigate crime and disorder
- Support enforcement action and legal proceedings where necessary
- Assist with traffic, community safety and public protection where CCTV is used
We process personal data under UK data protection law using lawful bases including:
- Public task – where processing is necessary to perform our statutory functions
- Legal obligation – where we are required to process data by law
- Vital interests – where necessary to protect life
- Substantial public interest – for safeguarding and crime prevention purposes
How we use CCTV and Body Worn Cameras
The Council operates CCTV and Body Worn Cameras in certain locations to support public safety, crime prevention, and enforcement activity.
- Not all areas are continuously monitored, and not all cameras operate at all times
- CCTV signage is displayed where systems are in use
- Images may be reviewed where required for investigations, complaints, or legal purposes
Where footage includes other identifiable individuals, access may be restricted if disclosure would breach the rights of others or prejudice an ongoing investigation.
Who we share information with
We may share personal information where it is lawful, necessary and proportionate, including with:
- Other Council services
- The police and other law enforcement bodies
- Health and social care providers
- Safeguarding partners
- Other local authorities
- Legal advisers and courts
- Contractors or service providers acting on our behalf
We only share the minimum information necessary for the specific purpose and ensure appropriate data‑sharing agreements are in place.
We may share information with family members or carers only where appropriate, usually with your consent, unless doing so would place someone at risk.
How long we keep your information
We do not keep personal information for longer than necessary.
Retention periods for ASB records, enforcement activity and CCTV footage are set out in the Council’s corporate retention schedule, which is published on our website.
How we keep your information secure
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:
- Secure IT systems and access controls
- Staff training and regular compliance checks
- Encryption and system monitoring
- Contracts and assurance checks for organisations that process data on our behalf
Only authorised staff can access personal information, and only where it is necessary for their role.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have rights in relation to your personal information, including the right to:
- Request access to your personal data (a Subject Access Request)
- Ask for inaccurate or incomplete information to be corrected
- Request restriction of processing, in certain circumstances
- Object to processing, where applicable
Requests for CCTV or Body Worn Camera footage must also be made as a Subject Access Request. We may need additional information to locate footage and to protect the rights of others.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have used your information, please contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer using the details above.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
- Telephone: 0303 123 1113
- Website: www.ico.org.uk
Changes to this privacy notice
This privacy notice was last reviewed on 8 September 2025.
We may update it from time to time to reflect changes in law or service delivery.