• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Air navigation service providers across Europe will share a £1.1 billion support package to maintain services, as the fall in air traffic has led to a dramatic reduction in their income.

The UK, along with other European states, has supported the intergovernmental organisation, EUROCONTROL, which manages charging for air navigation services across Europe, in securing a loan of £1.1 billion to maintain critical air navigation services, which have been affected by the fall in air traffic from coronavirus.

As the UK’s enroute air navigation service provider, NATS would be eligible to receive up to £92 million in support, enabling it to continue providing services, supporting cargo and repatriation flights as well as ensuring the organisation can return to full operations at the appropriate time, to help the recovery of the aviation sector.

Following the announcement last week that airlines would be able to temporarily defer payments for route charges for up to 14 months, this arrangement provides financial relief to air navigation service providers also facing disruption as a result of coronavirus.

The UK government holds a 10% share in the vote for any such action passed by EUROCONTROL and voted in favour of pursuing the loan. Founded in 1963, the organisation has 41 member states and is not an agency of the EU.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The effect of coronavirus is being felt right across the aviation sector which is why we have announced an unprecedented package of support measures to help firms through this extremely testing period.

Air navigation service providers rely on airlines operating for their revenue, so this support will enable them to continue providing their safety critical services, as we help stranded Brits get home and transport vital medical supplies.

This case study is about how Thanet District Council went about getting the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s third party certification mark. The processes they went through, the benefits to them as an organisation and how it benefits the people their cameras monitor.

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s third party certification scheme enables organisations to clearly demonstrate that they comply with the surveillance camera code of practice. For local authorities this is particularly important, as they have a legal requirement to pay due regard to the code.

A number of local authorities have attained the commissioner’s certification mark, but Thanet District Council are one of the first local authorities to achieve certification in respect of their CCTV, body worn video (BWV) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) surveillance camera systems.

Kim Burgess, CCTV Control Centre Supervisor said:

As both the manager and myself were both relatively new to the department there was an opportunity to check that what we had implemented fitted the legal requirements. It was initially a suggestion from the Head of Service and once investigated further it showed this was a good move for us to take, this also assists with the Department’s Values within the authority. Being a non-statutory department anything that shows we are doing the job well assists.

Supporting communities

The certification process provides assurance to communities that surveillance cameras are used effectively, efficiently and proportionately to support them not spy on them. It also ensures that organisations are transparent about why they use cameras and where they are sited. This was some of the reasoning for Thanet applying for all three systems at once.

Kim explained:

We applied for all three (CCTV, BWV and ANPR) as our own codes of practice include all three – it made sense for us. All the systems are monitoring members of the public so having them all receive the mark can help inform people that we use them in accordance with the legal requirements set out in the code of practice.

Simple, accessible and affordable

Certification is simple, accessible and affordable and there are 3 security industry certification bodies that are currently qualified to audit against the code of practice – the SSAIB, NSI and IQ Verify.

Kim said:

Even for three systems in one go the process was easy to follow. Initially it would have been a handwritten application but on asking, a word document was created and this made it easier to complete the application process. It did take some time to research some of the more technical answers however it only meant a few emails here and there.

Thanet were awarded full certification and are now able to proudly display the commissioner’s certification mark on their website and other publicity materials. This mark demonstrates clearly that they use their surveillance cameras effectively, efficiently and proportionately, that they comply with the 12 guiding principles in the code.

Kim said:

Certification marks showing compliance give an overall feeling of achievement to the department staff, to the council and the councillors. I’d strongly recommend local authorities consider certification for the various surveillance camera systems they operate.

In light of the latest government advice it is necessary for us to continue to avoid non-essential travel and maintain social distancing. This means that physical events, planned to take place during the lockdown period, will need to be postponed. We are therefore reviewing cases on a rolling basis, deciding the most appropriate action to take in each case. This is to ensure the safety of our staff and all parties involved in a case.

At the same time, we are working hard on finding ways to minimise any delay caused by exploring alternative options of progressing casework safely and fairly.  A great deal of work is going on behind the scenes to process cases. This also includes trialling holding events using telephone or video conferencing where it is accessible to all parties. We previously explained the principles for this 

We expect to be holding our first digital pilot case either at the end of this month or early next month, and we are currently in the process of firming up details with the parties concerned. We will provide an update on this as soon as practically possible.  

Where we are postponing events or identifying some as early pilots, we are advising parties  accordingly. We will also continue to review the situation as and when Government advice changes and expect to publish further updates on an ongoing basis. 

We have also started a trial of ‘virtual site visits’ with a small group of inspectors. If a case is deemed suitable for inclusion as part of this pilot, we will be contacting the main parties for their views. If this confirms that the proposed written representations appeal can be properly decided on the basis of digital images, a physical visit will not take place and the case will be decided purely on the basis of the written evidence received. This will include inviting the submission of further specific information. We will review this approach in a few weeks’ time before considering whether to extend the pilot. 

Four advisory visits to local planning authorities in connection with intended local plan submissions have also been undertaken remotely via video call. Similarly, six telephone conference calls on inquiries to take place later this summer have also already taken place during the lock down. This is an important contribution to maintaining progress of casework wherever possible whilst ensuring it is achieved safely and fairly, which is the Planning Inspectorate’s overriding aim during this period.