Neighbours CCTV - Are There Rules ?
Discussion
I'm in the countryside and my nearest neighbour is opposite but his house is 100m from the road whilst mine is approx 30m.
However he's had issues with theft and has erected dome type CCTV cameras on high poles one of which is at the roadside by his gates.
I have a slight issue with this as obviously you can't see where the camera is pointing and it could be looking into any of my 3 daughters bedrooms on the front of my house - I don't suppose he's a weirdo but who knows.
Is this a reasonable positioning of CCTV or are there any rules these days ?
Ideally I'd have preferred a normal camera pointing at his gate which is the norm.
Simply asking before talking to him as his bloody 10,000W LED PIR light, lights up the front of my house too, setting my dogs off at all hours.
However he's had issues with theft and has erected dome type CCTV cameras on high poles one of which is at the roadside by his gates.
I have a slight issue with this as obviously you can't see where the camera is pointing and it could be looking into any of my 3 daughters bedrooms on the front of my house - I don't suppose he's a weirdo but who knows.
Is this a reasonable positioning of CCTV or are there any rules these days ?
Ideally I'd have preferred a normal camera pointing at his gate which is the norm.
Simply asking before talking to him as his bloody 10,000W LED PIR light, lights up the front of my house too, setting my dogs off at all hours.
If it's installed on his property then I'll think you'll have a hard time getting him to remove it legally.
I doubt those Dome cameras would be decent enough to be able to pick up images through your daughters' windows, the resolution would be nowhere near as powerful as it would need to be.
I doubt those Dome cameras would be decent enough to be able to pick up images through your daughters' windows, the resolution would be nowhere near as powerful as it would need to be.
I worked on the design for Colchester Garrison and the perimeter wall/fencing security cameras were originally meant to be rotational; however this was not permitted as many areas of the site were bordered by residential properties and the cameras had to be fixed to avoid them being turned by the operator to view back gardens/windows etc. It meant a lot more fixed cameras were required to cover all the deviations in alignment along the perimeter wall/fence.
CCTV cameras can be subject to the Protection from Harassment Act, and also the Human Rights Act.
Plus, if he's filming onto your property, he should register with the ICO as a data controller, which costs £35 per year.
Technically, if he's filming you and your family it's a matter for the police, or even a safer neighbourhood-type department in the local authority.
The problem you'll have is getting anyone to do anything about it. We had a neighbour (50-odd-year-old weirdo, still living at home with his mum) filming our garden with CCTV and admitting to police to taking photos of my girlfriend while hiding behind buildings. The police wouldn't do a thing.
You may find this useful: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/docum...
Plus, if he's filming onto your property, he should register with the ICO as a data controller, which costs £35 per year.
Technically, if he's filming you and your family it's a matter for the police, or even a safer neighbourhood-type department in the local authority.
The problem you'll have is getting anyone to do anything about it. We had a neighbour (50-odd-year-old weirdo, still living at home with his mum) filming our garden with CCTV and admitting to police to taking photos of my girlfriend while hiding behind buildings. The police wouldn't do a thing.
You may find this useful: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/docum...
How close is the camera to your house? As someone mentioned, most CCTV equipment doesn't have the resolution to give anything other than an overall view over a certain distance - although it's understandably not nice not knowing if it is pointing at your house or not.
This page offers some info on equipment and distances: http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/i/Home_Office_Re...
Most dome cameras won't have anything like the lens required for facial recognition over a decent distance, and there are rules about not recording beyond your property - it's worth having a friendly word.
This page offers some info on equipment and distances: http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/i/Home_Office_Re...
Most dome cameras won't have anything like the lens required for facial recognition over a decent distance, and there are rules about not recording beyond your property - it's worth having a friendly word.
I can't quote chapter & verse but there are most definitely rules about it. I have a feeling, although happy to be corrected, that it's something to do with, whilst your camera can cover your land and anywhere public, it's not allowed to be able to "view" anyone else's property. Have a Google, if I'm halfway right then you should be able to do something about it.
V8RX7 said:
I have a slight issue with this as obviously you can't see where the camera is pointing and it could be looking into any of my 3 daughters bedrooms on the front of my house - I don't suppose he's a weirdo but who knows.
I understand your concern, but thinking rationally. What is to stop anyone looking from the public road at your house into any of the windows?If you live near a hill with a footpath on, then some bino's or a telescope would achieve the same thing.
Essentially is the risk really any greater?
-You could fit net curtains to the windows, or something else to make it harder to look in from outside.
-Maybe speak to and get to know your neighbour? Probably a better way to judge them and then as a potential friend enquire about fixed camera's instead.
Mr Trophy said:
Speak to him?
I recently put CCTV up in the house, chapped next door to make them aware. They where more than happy and even asked if it would cover their house - which they where grateful for.
Indeed, we put some up after our garage was broken into. It only covers our garden but I still went over to the neighbors and explained that, they were disappointed it didn't cover theirs too..I recently put CCTV up in the house, chapped next door to make them aware. They where more than happy and even asked if it would cover their house - which they where grateful for.
A council/police camera on a street in my local town used to be an old fashioned boxy shape one. They made sure it couldn't look into bedrooms of houses behind (it has since changed to a small dome type but I assume the angle of view is still the same):
https://goo.gl/maps/bFvTT1MCx3k
Any chance your neighbour could do the same (or you do it at your expenses with his permission)?
https://goo.gl/maps/bFvTT1MCx3k
Any chance your neighbour could do the same (or you do it at your expenses with his permission)?
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