Spelthorne Borough Council uses drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), to capture aerial photographs and video footage for specific Council purposes.
Why does the Council use drones?
SBC uses ariel flying devices equipped with cameras (drones) to capture images and/or video of land across the borough to help us deliver or promote our services. Audio is not recorded. Where required landowner permission is sought.
The drone footage will capture images and videos of the borough. It may incidentally record identifiable individuals, vehicles, or property.
The Council uses qualified unmanned aerial systems (UAS) pilots to fly drones. Each one has passed a theory assessment with an organisation approved by the CAA.
What is our lawful basis for processing?
The Council processes personal data captured through drone operations under Article 6(1)(e) UK GDPR: processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the Council.
Where individuals are incidentally captured in images or video footage, the Council will ensure that such processing is necessary, proportionate and limited to what is required for the specific purpose of the deployment.
Who we share information with
Access to original footage is restricted to authorised Council officers who have a legitimate business need.
Published aerial imagery may be shared through:
- The Council website.
- Council publications.
- Social media channels.
- Promotional and tourism materials.
- Public information campaigns.
Where footage is published online, it may be viewed by audiences outside the United Kingdom.
How long we keep information
Raw footage that has no continuing business value will be deleted after review.
Approved photographs and video footage retained may be retained for up to five years.
Footage that is no longer required will be securely deleted.
How we keep information secure
Drone imagery is transferred to the Council's secure IT systems as soon as practicable after capture.
The Council protects information using appropriate technical and organisational measures
If you have any direct enquiries, Spelthorne Borough Council’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at data.protection@spelthorne.gov.uk
You have the following rights
- you have the right to be informed via Privacy Notices such as this,
- you have the right to request access to and to receive a copy of any information we hold about you (including in an electronic format) - to request a copy of this information you must make a subject access request in writing,
- if you find that the information Spelthorne Borough Council holds about you is no longer accurate, you have the right to ask to have this corrected,
- you have the right - under certain conditions - to ask us to erase your personal data,
- you may request that Spelthorne Borough Council stops processing your personal data in relation to any council service (this may delay or prevent us delivering a service to you, we will seek to comply with your request but may be required to hold or process information to comply with our legal duties).
To exercise any of these rights contact the Data Protection Officer at data.protection@spelthorne.gov.uk.
You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). This is an independent body responsible for making sure that organisations comply with Data Protection legislation.
The ICO will always expect you to have raised your concerns with us before submitting a complaint.