16 Jul 2015

No privacy concerns from cameras - commission

3:07 pm on 16 July 2015

The Privacy Commission says a Hutt City Council policy to fit its frontline regulatory staff with cameras doesn't raise any significant concerns about privacy breaches.

A Hutt City Council parking officer wears one of the on-body video cameras.

Photo: SUPPLIED / Hutt City

Parking wardens and animal control officers in Lower Hutt will wear on-body video cameras to help protect them from abuse and assault.

The council says staff have to turn on the camera if they think they are in danger and people will be told it is on.

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said the council had taken steps to address any concerns about potential privacy breaches.

"You'd expect them not to record particularly sensitive things that they come across in their work, and as far as I'm aware, the protocol that the Hutt City Council has designed meet those kinds of requirements."

Associate Professor Gehan Gunasekara, from the University of Auckland's Business School, said the footage collected could be used in court.

"It protects members of the public as well as council staff. If the footage is there, it's undeniable as to what happened."