CCTV Law in the UK

CCtv law in UK for homes
Image copyright Rated Street 2022

Whether you are looking to install a CCTV camera on and around your home, or you feel your neighbours cctv is invading your privacy. We have compiled some information that should help you understand the UK CCTV law, your rights and responsibilities.

Capturing cctv 

The rules for domestic UK CCTV law are simple, if your CCTV only films within your boundary then the Data Protection laws do not apply to you.

If your CCTV captures areas which are not your property or catches memebers of the public, such as neighbours garden or public footpaths, you will have to have a justifiable reason for this and be compliant to the Data protection Laws as well as GDPR laws.

Below is a list to help you stay within the law if you are filming outside your property boundary.

  • Have a sign that alerts the public of filming.
  • What are your reasons for having CCTV? Ensure you have a valid reason.
  • Ensure your CCTV Data is stored according to the Data protection act.
  • You must allow a person to request data that is held on them or removal of personal data.

So, what can happen if these rules are breached? There has recently been a land mark civil case in the UK courts. The judge had ruled that the use of a domestic Ring doorbell and Ring spotlight CCTV broke data protection laws. The ring doorbell owner could be ordered to pay £100,000. This  ruling  sets such a president for CCTV .

A Ring spokesperson said: “We strongly encourage our customers to respect their neighbors’ privacy and comply with any applicable laws when using their Ring device.

That is not say that CCTV is a nuisance, used correctly CCTV can be a great way to protect your home and give you peace of mind when you are away. If you have any comment about your own situation please use the comment section below or our forum.

For more information please visit the ICO website, ICO is the UK’s independent body set up to uphold information rights.

Can my neigbour film my property?

Your neighbour must have a good reason to why they are filming parts of your property. If this reason is not valid their behavior could be classed as harassment in a civil case.
If they are filming outside their own property boundaries, they must also adhere to data protection laws.

Who do I complain to about CCTV?

Generally, CCTV issues are a civil matter between you and your neighbour. You can raise a concern with the ICO if you are in the UK.
https://ico.org.uk
If you cannot mediate an agreeable action with your neighbour, you can take them to civil court. We recommend you seek legal advice.

Can I view neighbours CCTV?

You can request to view your neighbours CCTV if you appear in the footage. You need to request that you wish to view footage that they have of your personal information , under the data protection act. This is called the “Right of access”.

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