UK ends Surveillance Camera Third Party Certification

If you manage CCTV, body‑worn video or ANPR for a school, council or police force, here’s a change you need to note today. The UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner has permanently closed the Surveillance Camera Third Party Certification (TPC) scheme. Letters sent on 19 November 2025 to certified bodies and accreditation bodies, published by GOV.UK on 21 November, confirm the decision and make clear the closure takes immediate effect. Certificates are no longer valid.

Let’s recap what the TPC scheme was. Launched in 2015 alongside the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, it offered organisations an independent audit against the Code and a certification mark to show the public they were running CCTV fairly and proportionately. Two UKAS‑accredited auditors, SSAIB and the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), carried out those audits; many councils used the two‑step process of a desktop check followed by a full on‑site review.

Why close it now? In his letter, Professor William Webster explains that extension certificates were previously linked to the start of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI). When Parliament was dissolved ahead of the 4 July 2024 General Election, the Bill fell-so some organisations were left holding certificates with no natural end date. That undermines confidence in any mark of compliance, so the scheme is being wound up.

What changes from today? First, any TPC certificate or use of the commissioner’s certification mark should be removed from websites, emails and signage. The Commissioner’s office says only a small number of ‘extension’ certificates remained in circulation and those organisations are being contacted directly. GOV.UK’s scheme page also now states plainly that all certificates are invalid and the scheme is permanently closed.

What stays the same? The Home Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice still exists under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Relevant authorities in England and Wales-such as local authorities and the police-must continue to “have regard to” the Code’s 12 principles when operating public‑space surveillance, regardless of the end of the TPC scheme.

So what replaces the TPC badge if you still want external assurance? The Commissioner notes that accreditation bodies have already moved to auditing against established British Standards rather than the TPC scheme. If you need third‑party assurance, NSI and SSAIB continue to certify against BSI‑based standards commonly used for CCTV and monitoring, such as the BS EN 62676 series and BS 8418. That route remains open.

Don’t forget the data protection baseline. Whether you are in the public or private sector, UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 still govern how you collect, store and share images and metadata. The Information Commissioner’s Office provides detailed guidance on video surveillance, including DPIAs, signage, retention, and specific advice on ANPR, drones and facial recognition. Use that as your rulebook.

If you previously relied on the TPC logo to reassure your community, focus now on transparency you can show. Publish your CCTV policy, complete and share a current DPIA summary, refresh signage, and document how you meet the Code’s principles. The Commissioner’s self‑assessment tool remains available to help you check your practice in a structured way before you seek any industry certification.

What to watch next. Oversight is in flux: the Commissioner says a Home Office consultation on facial recognition and wider oversight is expected in the coming weeks, and he will continue to encourage adherence to the Code while the long‑term framework is decided. Professor Webster formally started in post on 1 November 2025 after a year‑long gap without a Surveillance Camera Commissioner, so expect further updates from his office.