Covert CCTV on business premises.

[JumboBeef]

What are the rules on using covert CCTV on business premises (in Scotland if it makes any difference)?

A company has an internal problem with petty theft and damage, can they use covert CCTV to catch the perpetrator?

Thanks.

[TheRainMaker]

No expert, but a lot of places we work have cctv cameras hidden in PIR sensors.

Now they could be breaking the law but it stops the staff nicking stuff.

[Durzel]

I installed IP cameras here in the office and warehouse so that the boss could remotely monitor it out of hours, and when HR got involved they posted a memo to all staff advising them that they would only be active outside of working hours.

Based on that I would assume there are some HR issues that need to be addressed before you can just stick cameras up that could conceivably record people, etc.

Of course the above said I'm sure it's done up and down the country.

[marshalla]

ICO advice on CCTV : http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_gu...

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

marshalla said:

ICO advice on CCTV : http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_gu...

Doesn't cover covert I'm afraid.

[Deisel Weisel]

JumboBeef said:

Thanks.

marshalla said:

ICO advice on CCTV : http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_gu...

Doesn't cover covert I'm afraid.

But it does tell you which acts cover that, in the fourth paragraph, in the first section:

Law enforcement covert surveillance activities are covered by a separate Act - the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act (RIPSA) 2000.

[CoolHands]

councils covertly spy on us, so why wouldn't you be allowed in your own business?

[InitialDave]

"It's not covert, my staff are just really unobservant"

[Quattromaster]

Slightly different I know but with regard to vehicle trackers, you don't have to tell the driver it's fitted, but you cannot discipline them using the tracker info as evidence .

Might be the same regarding CCTV

[mph1977]

InitialDave said:

"It's not covert, my staff are just really unobservant"

Which might actualky work if you have mixture of cameras and tell staff when it's put in / at induction " there's big cameras and there's little cameras , just assume anywhere in the warehouse is on camera."

[Gareth79]

Deisel Weisel said:

But it does tell you which acts cover that, in the fourth paragraph, in the first section:

Law enforcement covert surveillance activities are covered by a separate Act - the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act (RIPSA) 2000.

That refers to surveillance by law enforcement - ie. not private companies.

Reading around in the past, my view is that covert recordings of staff must be specific to the matter at hand and only operational for as long as required. eg. if stock from a certain area was going missing then putting covert cameras in the staff room would probably be overreaching unless the management believed it was being transferred to bags there.

[anonymous-user]

Quattromaster said:

Slightly different I know but with regard to vehicle trackers, you don't have to tell the driver it's fitted, but you cannot discipline them using the tracker info as evidence .

Might be the same regarding CCTV

I believe that to be correct.

Also, you cannot watch or review CCTV footage in order to assess performance or timekeeping of your staff, you can only review footage if you believe an incident of gross misconduct has occured.

[3Dee]

NinjaPower said:

...you cannot watch or review CCTV footage in order to assess performance or timekeeping of your staff...

Why not?
If you have a member of staff that you suspect is 'say' spending lots of your time messing around on 't'internet' rather than actually working, or maybe disappearing from his desk round the back of the building nattering to others way too regularly, for example, then surely this is just an extension of you, the manager, yourself, watching these antic from afar. The surv cam is just an extension to the Managers observational abilities?

[anonymous-user]

3Dee said:

Why not?
If you have a member of staff that you suspect is 'say' spending lots of your time messing around on 't'internet' rather than actually working, or maybe disappearing from his desk round the back of the building nattering to others way too regularly, for example, then surely this is just an extension of you, the manager, yourself, watching these antic from afar. The surv cam is just an extension to the Managers observational abilities?

From the Gov.uk website:

4. Using CCTV

If your business uses CCTV, you must tell people they may be recorded.

This is usually done by displaying signs, which must be clearly visible and readable.

You must also notify the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) why you’re using the CCTV.

You should control who can see the recordings, and make sure the system is only used for the purpose it was intended for.

If the system was set up to detect crime, you should not use it to monitor the amount of work done by your staff.

[Barwy]

Interesting thread which is relevant to me. We have suspicions of internal theft and have been thinking of installing a single camera covering a specific spot with intent of catching the thief in action. Of course it would be taken down once the investigation is completed and action has been taken, if any is needed of course.

[anonymous-user]

Barwy said:

Interesting thread which is relevant to me. We have suspicions of internal theft and have been thinking of installing a single camera covering a specific spot with intent of catching the thief in action. Of course it would be taken down once the investigation is completed and action has been taken, if any is needed of course.

Pages 22 and 23: http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_gu...

[Barwy]

Thanks La Liga, that's just answered all of my questions. From what I can see it's basically just a little bit of common sense when it comes to filming people. I think I'll be putting a camera up this week and see what happens...!

[anonymous-user]

I'd also consider what may be most resilient against any employment disputes. I have no experience in this area but it may be a risk that needs considering when it comes to recording decisions etc.

[grumpyscot]

Both in my work (Bank - ITCentre and also in Cash Centre)and my son's previous (Drug manufacturer) had covert cameras - which all the staff were told existed - as well as stop and full body search powers - all were laid down in contracts of employment. The Bank head of security was, oddly enough, ex head of CID. Sneak thieves were caught through using the cameras in the IT centre.