CCTV failings exposed
Some colleges keep their CCTV footage for just 24 hours, whilst others have no cameras at all
As Oxford University’s security comes under scrutiny following threats by animal rights activists, an investigation by The Oxford Student has discovered huge discrepancies between colleges’ CCTV security systems, with some colleges having no electronic protection at all, and others retaining their footage for no longer than 24 hours. Of the colleges surveyed, three have no CCTV system in place. For security reasons The Oxford Student has decided not to name them.
The Bursar of one such central college said that the old system was “defunct”, “irreparably broken” and “needs to be replaced.” Of the remainder, Mansfield, Balliol and Worcester have greatest cause for concern. Mansfield and Balliol retain their footage for just 24 hours, whilst until recently Worcester’s system ran on a three day loop.
Balliol JCR President Jack Hawkins was concerned at the findings: “That’s very worrying, especially concerning the current security situation with the ALF. “It is something I will look into and certainly bring it up with the Bursar.
Mansfield and Worcester are among several colleges who are upgrading their CCTV systems from analogue to digital, at an estimated cost of between £2,500 to £6,500, as the more frequent problems of bike and computer thefts are compounded by the threats from extreme organisations, such as the Animal Liberation Front, who claimed responsibility for the arson attack on a boathouse shared by several colleges in July last year.
Two weeks ago, The Oxford Student reported that there had been 134 incidents of theft or burglary from colleges in the past twelve months, during which time Thames Valley Police were called to colleges almost 350 times. However, there remains no university standard for security. Some colleges are unable to access their own CCTV footage and need to call a contractor whenever they wish to view it, while others admitted to not having any closed circuit monitoring systems at all.
The Master of one such college, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Oxford Student “by and large we have managed to spot and successfully challenge the very occasional intruder whom we have had: about three in the last eight years, none of whom got away with anything.” When questioned about the lack of CCTV at Greyfriars, JCR President Nick Adams suggested “because we’re smaller, security is easier to deal with. Everyone knows everyone else.
Reports that Mansfield’s Junior Dean was threatened with a knife outside the college’s main entrance last year remain unconfirmed as the incident was not recorded on CCTV, because the college’s only external camera contained no film at the time. Even when it contains film, any footage is deleted after 24 hours • the shortest retention period for any college.
The Bursar of the college, Steve Waterman, was unable to comment on the alleged attack, but admitted that “there has been one occasion when the videotape hasn’t worked. Normally there’s film in there”. Several incidents of theft took place in Mansfield during Michaelmas 2004, when two students’ rooms were broken into. Items stolen included both students’ laptops and an ipod. Like numerous other colleges, Mansfield intends to install a new CCTV system by the end of Hilary Term.
This system will have four cameras and digital recording capability. Problems caused by inadequate CCTV coverage were first highlighted in Michaelmas Term, when a Worcester student discovered that while the college kept footage for three days, technicians from an external company had to be called in to access it.
Worcester second year Zeid Bsaibes told The Oxford Student that his bicycle was stolen in the college’s Canal Building area, from “what was meant to be a locked CCTV monitored bike shed”. He brought this to the attention of college authorities, but they were unable to summon CCTV technicians within the three-day limit and the footage of the theft was permanently erased. The college has since decided that its CCTV loop was too short.
Home Bursar Steve Dyer, told The Oxford Student: “We regularly review our security procedures, and regard the safety and security of members of College as a very high priority. Our CCTV coverage has been upgraded from the videotape type systems to computer disk storage.” Hertford and St Hugh’s Colleges are also in the process of upgrading their CCTV systems to allow better monitoring in all areas of the college and to improve their ability to monitor the college at night.
The new systems will also increase the period for which footage is kept before being erased. A spokesman for Chris Lewis Security Services explained that the advantages of digital recording over analogue were huge. Digital recordings are higher quality and can be easily accessed and transferred via email. It also mkes it possible to view footage and record simultaneously. The spokesman stated that cost is the only possible reason for not upgrading.
Many colleges, such as Teddy Hall, already operate on a superior digital system. Its CCTV covers its two entrances, Queens Lane, outside the dining hall, the graveyard and the entrances to the library, the JCR computer room and the main quad. Similarly, David Mills, Domestic Bursar at Trinity, stated: “CCTV footage is deleted automatically after one month. If the footage is required concerning an incident it is downloaded on to a disc where it can be stored indefinitely.
St Peter’s set the benchmark for colleges looking to upgrade their systems, storing CCTV footage for two years before deleting it. Authorities at five colleges, including LMH and Univ, refused to comment on their CCTV, citing the Data Protection Act. Aidan Randle-Conde, Student Union Vice-President (Welfare) said: “Colleges are generally a very safe environment. When a student’s laptop is stolen they may need CCTV footage as evidence.
If the college can’t provide the footage then it’s not looking out for the students’ best interests.” The University Marshall said that it is up to the individual colleges to decide whether to have CCTV and how long to retain the footage.
2nd Feb 2006