The CCTV Data Compliance Inspectorate (CCTV Inspectorate) was formed in 2003 and launched in May 2010.

After taking advice from the Information Commissioners Office, the CCTV Inspectorate has designed Compliance Assessment Forms (CAF's) for individual CCTV systems. Completion of these nationally available generic documents, on a regular basis, by an Inspectorate Certificated Licensed Assessor ensures the monitoring of compliance with the CCTV Code of Practice provided that any recommended remedial work has been completed satisfactorily within a specified period of time.

The national independent CCTV Inspectorate is designed to operate as a "not for profit" organisation, providing training, certification and monitoring of Licensed Assessors and Licensed Inspectors to ensure adherence to and completion of the compliance documentation to a satisfactory level. This documentation, available at a nominal cost, underpins and supplements the legal and good practice compliance requirements of the CCTV Code of Practice pursuant to the Data Protection Act 1998 which became law on the 1st March 2000.

The CCTV Inspectorate is working towards accreditation with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the body recognised by the government as the sole national accreditation authority to assess the competence, impartiality and performance capability of organisations providing certification and inspection services. UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the government.

The CCTV Inspectorate and its Inspectors is a national CCTV Inspectorate acting and operating independently of the Information Commissioners Office. There is no connection between the information Commissioners Office and the CCTV Inspectorate. The roles of both respective organisations are different and are clearly defined.

To ensure the balance of its strategies the CCTV Inspectorate will continuously consult with a variety of organisations such as: