If a CCTV camera is capturing more than it should

More and more of us are protecting our properties with CCTV and video doorbells. But many of us are also unaware of the legislation we have to comply with when we install them. The cameras need to be set up in a way that respects other people’s privacy. When your home is your sanctuary, it can be stressful to think a neighbour is capturing you on their CCTV.

Data protection laws apply to CCTV systems

As long as the cameras only capture images inside the boundaries of your property, your CCTV is perfectly legal. But if the system captures images of, for example, neighbours’ homes or gardens, shared spaces or public footpaths, then you could be breaking data protection laws. These laws also mean you need to regularly delete the recordings and not keep them for longer than necessary to protect your property

How we can help

We can help you understand how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 apply to CCTV. If you’re worried about how the position of a neighbour's CCTV is affecting you, we can advise you on your right to privacy. And if you want to know how to best go about putting up CCTV, we can give you expert guidance. We’ll:

• listen to what the situation is
• give you clear guidance on data protection laws and the responsible use of CCTV
• advise you on next steps