CCTV sharing images query

cloudwalker

Hi all,
I am looking for answers to the following questions on CCTV please.
If I have it installed in my corner shop to detect & prevent crime with all the relevant signs in place, I see a shoplifter clearly committing an offence.
How do I identify this person if the police can't ? am I allowed to share still images or clips of the video with other local business or online on local pages for the purposes of identification only.
Interested to here from anyone who knows the facts on this one please,I have tried searching online but no clear answers.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Swipe

I'd advise asking these questions in a legal forum as you are more likely to get the correct advice

PasturesNew

Many other people/companies seem to share such images on their social media accounts. They often crop up in the Daily Mail, for instance.

I presume the CCTV is in your private premises, so no issues there. You own the photos, by copyright, so no issues there. I think they gave up their rights not to be recognised the minute they stuck their sticky mitts over your produce.

Of course, some hapless idiots will try to complain
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/01/shoplifted-arrested-complaining-cctv-image_n_8225872.html

cloudwalker

Thank you both I will ask in the legal section as well just in case.

cloudwalker

Sorry to be dim which section is legal a sub category in ? I have scrolled & searched but nothing obvious.

EssexExile

Swipe said a legal forum, not the legal section of a money saving forum. On here you'll get lots of opinions & lots of facts, but you won't be able to tell which is which.

tafelmoneysaver

Start with this page:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/cctv/

and then move onto the CCTV Code of Practice:
https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1542/cctv-code-of-practice.pdf

wilsonjack10

I wouldn't do anything until you know the legal framework behind this

paddyrg

I'd try doing it on the quiet, ask nearby local businesses face to face.

shopbot

cloudwalker wrote: »

Hi all,
I am looking for answers to the following questions on CCTV please.
If I have it installed in my corner shop to detect & prevent crime with all the relevant signs in place, I see a shoplifter clearly committing an offence.
How do I identify this person if the police can't ? am I allowed to share still images or clips of the video with other local business or online on local pages for the purposes of identification only.
Interested to here from anyone who knows the facts on this one please,I have tried searching online but no clear answers.
Thank you in advance for your help.

My advice would be to contact the co-ordinator for your local Shopwatch scheme. If there is not one in your town then try a nearby one. They will be able to advise you informally on the legalities.

As this relates to your business I would also get paid legal advice. For two reasons. Firstly if you break the law that's going to possibly cause further loss to your business (fines, prosecution etc). Secondly, you want your CCTV footage to be watertight legally to ensure any offenders can be properly prosecuted.

shaun_from_Africa

PasturesNew wrote: »

Many other people/companies seem to share such images on their social media accounts. They often crop up in the Daily Mail, for instance.

I presume the CCTV is in your private premises, so no issues there. You own the photos, by copyright, so no issues there. I think they gave up their rights not to be recognised the minute they stuck their sticky mitts over your produce.

Of course, some hapless idiots will try to complain
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/01/shoplifted-arrested-complaining-cctv-image_n_8225872.html

The OP will own the copyright to the images but this doesn't mean that they are free to do what they want with those images.
Any business use of CCTV (and other recordings) requires strict compliance with the data protection act and failure to abide by this act could result in a prosecution by the ICO or the person recorded seeking damages.
The reason why the shop owner in the link you gave didn't get into any trouble was because they made sure that the face of the alleged shoplifter was obscured before releasing the photographs, hence no breach of the DPA took place.

Simply saying that sharing their images is okay because other people also do the same is a very good reason why other posters gave the correct answer and suggest that the OP seeks advice from a legal source rather from unknown and unaccountable posters on an anonymous forum such as this one.