Closed circuit television recording in the NAS

The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) utilise closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all three of our buildings. The cameras, and the images that are recorded through them, are there to prevent crime and ensure public safety, and to provide security for our buildings, our records, our staff and our customers.

The images, which are collected by the NAS through our cameras, are of the main public areas in each of our buildings: the exhibition areas; search rooms and building entrances. Signs have been placed in areas where CCTV recording is taking place, to alert you to their presence and inform you of their purpose.

The images which are recorded from the cameras are kept by the NAS for four weeks, after which time, if they are not required for evidential purposes, the images are erased.

Disclosure of images

• Senior members of the NAS staff, for the purpose of building, record or staff security
  
  
• Law enforcement agencies, for assisting with criminal enquiries
  
  
• Prosecution agencies
  
  
• Relevant legal representatives
  
  
• The media, where it has been decided that public assistance is needed
  
  
• People whose images have been recorded

If images are disclosed to the media for any purpose, other than those outlined above, the images of individuals will be disguised so as to prevent identification.

Code of practice

August 2002