Recommendations for cheap home cctv

Heedtheadvice

"Heedtheadvice - really?"
Really, yes!
Don't take my word for it, read the link!
It is not just illegal, you might be committing a criminal offence if not done correctly!

Just because others do it or you might think the risk of being caught is low, does not make it legal. Might be that the outcome is worse than the problem?

Davesnave

I think it's possible to buy cameras which don't allow the casual passer-by or criminal to know which way they're pointing. We certainly had some where I worked, well over a decade ago.

Many people also manage to install small cameras where they can hardly be seen. A friend has some in her garden and I've yet to spot them, though I suspect one is in a bird box!

bertiewhite

I found a complete "Floureon" system on ebay for £50. I say complete because although it came with 2 x cameras, wiring and a Digital Video Recorder, it had no hard drive to record on to but I just got one out of an old SKY box which worked.

The quality isn't the best but it's good enough to identify people and it does what we want.

Which leads me on to this - we got one because of a neighbour's intimidating behaviour towards my wife whilst I was away from home and since we put the cameras up (which are clearly visible) the neighbour's attitude has completely changed for the better.

Maybe you don't a full system? Just putting a camera up might help if people know they're being watched?

Heedtheadvice

Ok Chappers, we are really getting off the point of the OP's question but you need to justify your statement so as not to mislead, however unintentionally.
I'll justify my warning that one needs to take care and that domestic CCTV falls within the act withe following extract from guidance issued by the Information Commissioner's Office. This gives the legal precedent. A balanced bit of guidances that tells us if it is done correctly all can be fine. Otherwise....
" The use of surveillance systems for limited household purposes can be exempt from the DPA.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued its judgment in
the case of Ryneš on 11 December 2014. In this judgment, the CJEU
concluded that where a fixed surveillance camera faces outwards from an
individual’s private domestic property and it captures images of
individuals beyond the boundaries of their property, particularly where it
monitors a public space, the recording cannot be considered as being for
a purely personal or household purpose.
This means that cameras attached to a private individual’s home may, in
certain circumstances, no longer be exempt from the requirements of the
DPA under section 36. Those circumstances are likely to include where the
camera monitors any area beyond the interior and exterior limits of that
individual’s home. This would include any camera to the extent that it
covered, even partially, a public space such as the pavement or street. It
would also cover cameras which captured areas such as neighbours’
gardens.
This decision does not mean that using such a camera is not possible but
it does mean that individuals will have to ensure that its use is legitimate
under the DPA. The CJEU made clear that use of cameras to protect a
property in this way can meet the legitimate interest condition in the
legislation. The ICO has produced a short complementary piece of
guidance for the public on how to ensure the use of a surveillance camera
on a private domestic property complies with the DPA."

(Apologies for poor formatting in that copy!)

As posted elsewhere in this thread it could be that catching the intended antisocial behaviour at the bins causes lots more friction which might then give cause to a complaint. So perhaps not as unlikely as when nobody is aware?

Strider590

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Sounds like there's a risk of the next door neighbour complaining. Some people get very funny about their neighbours putting up CCTV, hence the requirement to keep it pointing at your property and not outside your boundary.

Well in that case you say "why? got something to hide?"

I mean lets face it, the authorities wanted to give an unknown corporate entity the ability to censor and filter the internet and to snoop on the public on behalf of GCHQ most, people just said "I don't care, i've got nothing to hide".

Funny how when it's one person vaguely pointing a CCTV camera toward the street, people take offence........ Is it privacy or is it jealousy?

Lizabeth21

Which leads me on to this - we got one because of a neighbour's intimidating behaviour towards my wife whilst I was away from home and since we put the cameras up (which are clearly visible) the neighbour's attitude has completely changed for the better.

Exactly the same reason and result here also