Since they were installed three years ago, the borough has been recording footage during collection rounds from four cameras fitted onto the lorries.
Over this course of time, the cameras have shown “to be performing well in all areas”, in a recent review conducted by the council.
In a report released this week, the council explained that the cameras have been used to reduce the “risk of fraudulent claims for damages or injury, fraudulent insurance claims in respect of accidents and incidents” and to improve safety, efficiency, performance and customer service.
The recordings are being used to disprove claims that damage to parked vehicles and property has been caused by passing bin lorries.
They have also been used to obtain a conviction following an incident during a collection, where a resident threatened and verbally abused collection staff. The incident followed a refusal to collect waste from a recycling bin which had contained hidden hypodermic needles. The resident was fined £120 and ordered to pay £40 costs.
CCTV cameras have also been used to prove that bins have not been missed, where the footage has shown that “either the bins were not out by collection time, the wrong bins were left out or the bins were not correctly presented”, said the council in its statement.
George Bernard, Boston’s head of environmental operations, said: “The benefit to customers is that the bin men work to a tight schedule. Other customers are not impacted when we can see that returns to re-collect are not necessary, because it can be shown that customers did not present their bin at collection time.
“Many of those alleging a missed collection withdraw when we make it known to them that we have CCTV recorded evidence to the contrary.”
Cllr Michael Brookes, Boston borough council’s portfolio holder for refuse collection and recycling, added: “They have proved invaluable in the case of fraudulent claims, which would have cost council tax payers to defend against, and provide savings to all where people just have not presented their bins and have demanded that we call again.”
Lawful surveillance
The council also emphasised that the CCTV systems were being used “responsibly and lawfully”.
An inspector the Government’s surveillance cameras commission said the council “remained entirely focused on the nature of its responsibilities and the need to ensure that, even if the event is unlikely, if and when the need may arise, its activities will be lawful”.
Advice to other councils
Mr Bernard said: “Many local authorities now have CCTV on their bin lorries and we all agree that it is a worthwhile investment. Those who have not yet gone down this route would also benefit in a number of ways – being able to defend against spurious claims but also being able to monitor crews for their own health and safety and for performance measures.”
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