Close Circuit Tv Cameras

[bob561941]

I have recently installed c.c.t.v in my house with the cameras only pointed at scenes within my borders,a friend told me I would have to put up a notice stating that .c.c.tv surveilance was being operated,I thught this only applied to commercial premises. What is the law on c,c,tv ?

[boxtops]

I think you're right, does this help? http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/cctv-privacy-and-the-law.html

[emeritus]

Some information here

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/tvp_domestic__advice_leaflet.pdf

[Peter Pedant]

There is an awful lot here:
http://ico.org.uk/

snf on the right of the screen - you will see a topic guide.

I THINK you are obliged to tell people, and where to get the data if they want it ( you ) . It is obvious you arent only using it to detect crime so the usual law applies. [ oddly enough if it only for crime, then I think you dont have to ]

while you are at it - wonder if you are keeping named data on your computers and if you are, then think about registering as a data provider.

( I do both ). [Most professions have a computer users section. for about ten years I was the only member of a committee who had registered.....]


It is no big deal if you dont - but I think the £35 is well spent....

[Peter Pedant]

Bob - use the ico site first
problem neighbours is OK - but for example you can have overlap, so long as it isnt you know into the bedroom or onto their sun lounger in the back garden. The ICO have recently changed their advice.

I have been registered since 2000 and never had a data request.
about 50% of domestic cameras are non-functional apparently


You know the viddie of the grenade exploding in the street in manchester ( part of R v Cregan ) ? No one said Oh look look, an unlawful viddie !

[Peter Pedant]

oops

from the ICO site:

The Data Protection Act does not apply to individuals’ private or household purposes. So if you install a camera on your own home to protect it from burglary, the Act will not apply.

[DrFilth]

just going to post that pp

[Peter Pedant]

I have had to register for other reasons ( landlord who keeps computer records ) so I have never thought this a big deal....

anyway thz Dr F

[Buenchico]

At one time the Data Protection Registrar (as he was titled at that time) was of the opinion that the CCTV rules (as applied to commercial premises) also applied to domestic instalments. However a legal test case proved otherwise and the Information Commissioner (as he's now called) now states that there is no requirement for home owners to comply with the CCTV rules that apply to non-domestic premises.

So, given that those rules don't apply, the same situation prevails as with any other type of photography. i.e. as long as you steer clear of infringing legislation on sexual voyeurism, harassment, etc, you're free to photograph/video who or what you like as long as:
a) you (or your camera) are on your own premises ; OR
b) you are where the owner of the property has given you permission, explicitly or implicitly, to carry out such photography ; OR
c) you're in a public place (such as on a public footpath).

So, for example, it's perfectly legal to photograph/video people in their gardens or (through their windows) inside their homes as long as you're in one of the above locations. Even if you walk into someone's garden and start taking photographs of them and their family no criminal offence will have occurred. (It's purely a civil matter and the police have no powers to intervene other than, possibly, as a potential 'breach of the peace').

[sunny-dave]

My irritating git of a neighbour (over the back fence) has a bleeping great cctv video thingy - which could peer directly into my house (including at least one bedroom).

I contacted the police and my local authority and was told (as detailed above) that there was nothing to prevent him recording images of me inside my house/property as long as he didn't make 'inappropriate sexual use' of any of the recordings. Which did sort of beg the question as to what 'appropriate sexual use' might be :+().

I now have a sign facing outwards from the bedroom in question - visible only from his camera location - which says (in very big letters) "Fleep Off You Nosy Fleeping Cleep". I'm waiting for him to report me for abuse :+).

[Mosaic]

Could you not put a large inflatable bottom in the window Sunny-Dave?

[sunny-dave]

I could just stand there, Mosaic - it'd be cheaper :)

[jomifl]

You may have noticed images on TV news of events including people that have never given permission to have their images or deeds broadcast to the word. If The BBC or ITV can do this then you can at least video your own environs. I was once told by the police that I wasn't allowed to video the road outside my property. A few months later an incident ocurred nearby which prompted the police to ask me if I had a video of the event. I had to tell them that it was sadly no longer switched on. It was switched but there was nothing on it.