The spy lorries
They snoop for evidence that you’re breaking rubbish rules
OFFICIALS are snooping on families using bin lorries fitted with up to seven CCTV cameras.
Surveillance cameras – installed on waste trucks across the majority of the country – film and record everything in the immediate vicinity of the vehicles. The footage can be used as evidence against residents.
In some cases, it has already been passed to police after trucks were involved in road accidents and crew were subjected to verbal and physical abuse.
But town halls admit the cameras are also used to record when bins are not put out by families, when they are left in the wrong place and when residents are caught ‘contaminating’ their recycling.
Last night, privacy campaigners described the move as disproportionate and a breach of residents’ rights. The Mail’s investigation found that 166 out of 264 councils – more than six in ten – are now using CCTV on their bin lorries. The majority have at least four cameras on each truck so the cameras can see around the whole vehicle.
The surveillance systems can cost each council as much as £60,000 to install and £20,000 a year to maintain – suggesting about £10million has been spent on them.
Gravesham council in Kent disclosed that in 2014 it spent £1.7million on bin lorries fitted with ‘a seven-camera CCTV system’ for its weekly collections.
There are two cameras on each side of the front cabin – one on both sides facing forward and one facing backward – so they can record the full length of both sides of the vehicle.
Another on the front above the windscreen films ahead, while one on the back captures the rubbish loading area. The seventh camera films inside in the driver’s cabin.
The footage is saved on the hard drive for about two months and is downloaded manually by staff to investigate issues. Officials said: ‘The footage is used to investigate alleged vehicle accidents, health and safety breaches and in some cases missed collections.’
Bradford council has four bin vans that have CCTV cameras, which are fitted to the front back and sides of the vehicles. Officials said the cameras were used to fight false insurance claims for accidents. But it admitted footage had also been kept of bins not being left out on the right day or being put in the wrong place.
In Powys, mid Wales, rubbish is collected by trucks fitted with six CCTV cameras – one on the front, one on the rear and two on each side. Council staff said: ‘Some surveillance footage has been taken and used as evidence.’
Other local authorities with sixcamera CCTV systems on bin trucks include Blaby in Leicestershire and Reading in Berkshire. Gateshead council in Tyne and Wear uses four- camera systems,
‘Why are they spending so much money?’
which were installed in 2015/16 as part of a huge upgrade of trucks.
They have inbuilt computers that crew use to report incidents on their rounds – including when families’ recycling is contaminated, bins are too heavy or have not been left out. The information is sent electronically to a call centre so if residents complain of a missed collection, staff can rebut them.
The vans also now have the 360degree CCTV cameras, which can be viewed in real time by staff in council offices. When there are incidents, footage is downloaded and saved permanently.
The computer system cost the council £60,750 initially and £21,950 a year to maintain.
Griff Ferris of the campaign group Big Brother Watch said: ‘People’s rubbish-related habits do not need to be monitored by surveillance cameras. This is a complete breach of people’s privacy.’ Andrew Allison of the Freedom Association said: ‘Considering councils are trying to save cash, why are they spending so much money in this way?’ Gravesham council said its CCTV cameras were clearly marked with signs. Councillor Alan Ridgers added: ‘The cameras ensure our refuse collectors are providing a consistent professional service. If a resident informs us a bin has been missed we can check back on the CCTV to see if this is the case.
‘It is not for compiling evidence against residents it is for monitoring the rounds to ensure all bins are being collected as they should be.’
A spokesman for Bradford council said: ‘CCTV cameras help us increase efficiency thereby saving money for the council tax payer.’
Gateshead council said: ‘The CCTV isn’t used to check what is put in recycling bins. It is used to resolve any disputes with residents.’
Powys council said its cameras protected staff and the public and prevented false claims.
Reading council said that its footage was used to investigate accidents, insurance claims and incidents where residents had been abusive to staff.
Blaby declined to comment.