Budgens - won't give us CCTV footage :( pah!

asea

I've already posted it on the pub page but thought this might be a better place..

OK this is the story - My Mum got mugged recently for her watch. It transpires that she was followed & the perpetrators waited until she was walking through a quiet area before assaulting her and stealing her watch. I won't go into details but suffice to say it was pretty horrific & she has been left with scars such was the ferocity of their attack.

My Mum called me the other day to tell me that she had been told (by the police, I believe) that Budgens (a supermarket that she had walked past) had refused to give their CCTV footage (I thought that they had to) to the Police. The men that followed my Mum are allegedly in that footage.

Is there anyway that they can be forced to give that footage to the Police? Can they refuse it? How long do they have to keep it?

Sorry if it's the wrong place to post this was hoping one of you savvy lot might be able to help!

Thanks!

Lusignan

Really sorry to hear about your Mum. I would think that if the police can't force them to hand it over, there's not a lot you can do. I suspect it doesn't actually exist - Budgen have forgotten to change the film or repair the camera or something., and are too embarassed to admit it.

Chester_Draws

Im sure that the police can demand the tapes, so they are obviously chosing not to for some reason.
Unfortunately, you are not going to be able to request them though.

quote:
"You can only apply for access to information held on CCTV in specific circumstances. Access to images is generally restricted to the Police for evidence or to help tackle crime.
However, you can request access to CCTV images of yourself as long as the request is made in writing and gives enough detail to judge whether or not any CCTV images of you are held. This is because the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act of 2000 require public authorities to make any personal data held by them about a member of public available to that person.
If images of you are held, an edited copy will be shown to you. Editing takes place to make sure no one except you appears in the image(s) and that no other data which does not relate to you is shown, for example - a vehicle registration number which is not yours."

Elmer_Dudd

I cannot believe this.:mad:
Are Budgens being deliberately stupid or are they deliberately impeding a Police investigation-either way something has do be done.
If I were you I would go back to the Police and demand to speak personally to the Officer Dealing with this serious case and his Supervisor and find out what is going on.
How can Budgens fail to want to help catch these muggers!
I am sure the local press/MP would have a field day with this!
Make a fuss-be a nuisance-don't be fobbed off.
Hope they catch these parasites!
Elmer:cool:

maninthestreet

The police should be seizing these CCTV tapes, not meekly asking Budgens for them, and taking 'NO' for an answer. These tapes are evidence in a criminal investigation; Budgens cannot refuse to hand over the tapes to the police without committing a criminal offence themselves.

newfoundglory

As someone has already mentioned, maybe Budgens are confused as regard to Data Protection Act 1998. Under normal circumstances, they would not be able to release this data which is covered by the Act. However, as this relates to a crime they would not be in breach of the act should they hand over footage of your mother and the others involved.

I am also confused as to why the police have simply not taken them.

Alfie_E

It may simply be that it’s company policy not to release information unless compelled to by a court. It’s just a case of the police going through the process. You wouldn’t like to think that the police could storm into anywhere they liked, and take anything they liked, without some sort of independent oversight.

Poppy9

Police routinely sieze CCTV tapes, however many shops have dummy cameras or re-use tapes/discs continously. I suspect the tapes do not exist.

aj3001

The tapes would not work, they would have at least let the police view them whilst in store if they did exist

hollydays

Police have equipment to view these themselves.

If they want the footage they should hurry,its individual how long companies keep their images for,they could record over them in 7 days for example,or it could be a month.If the perpetrators RAN past a camera thats outside ,or pointing outside, its possible they may not have been caught on the camera due to time lapse recording(ie ever other second is recorded)

sarahg1969

Section 29 of the DPA would allow Budgens to release the tape for the purposes of detecting a crime.

Section 35 would allow them to release it for the purposes of Court proceedings.

They are being asses, and the police should tell them so.