Neighbors 5 CCTV Pointing at and into my house

Will_hj

Hi I'll give a bit of a back story.
We live in a pretty low crime area (No crime known since I've lived here!). We have new neighbors who put 9 camera up all around his house before moving in.
These cameras are pointed directly at my house and into windows and into my garden.

When I saw  him moving in I introduced myself and after small talk gently eased the topic of conversation to the cameras and if possible he could move them from my house (Or not so directly looking into my windows). His response was " I cannot see your house on my cameras". pretty abrupt and defensive and that he has them for "security".
Fair enough, so at this point I have 4 cameras out of 8 pointing at my house (He's a bit of a laughing stock in the area due to the CCTV issue. People walk past and point) The cameras are audio and thermal as well.

I come home to find another pointed (New camera) pointed at my garden today (High up so not covering any of his property!). I now have 3 pointed at every angle of my garden. I have no idea what his obsession with my house or me is? I'm quite boring and so is my garden. I feel uncomfortable for my family who like to use the garden with a bit of privacy. Especially seeing into the house. I do not know who he's sharing this with....

With the pandemic going on I know this is really not important but when you are at home and cameras are pointed into every room and garden. I feel uncomfortable for my family who like to use the garden with a bit of privacy. I've put up blinds but still, this is really invasion of privacy. This doesn't seems a police matter especially now. I just like to add this guy is very rich, much richer than me so going to court I imagine he will win with the best lawyers etc.

I have had evil thoughts of putting my own cameras up but to be honest that is just low and would not achieve anything.
I've read extensively about the laws surrounding CCTV and looks like all I can do is asked to see the footage and he can charge me £10 for that. There is no law that would mean he could be arrested for voyeurism. Only harassment, but that has to go through court.
There was a case in Scotland which was won, mine is much worse than theirs! However they run under a different system and to be honest looks like im going to be made redundant so I have not got the money to go to court
He has not masked them as I set the light off on them in the evening, which is extremely annoying !

Will_hj

Just like to point out there are also 2 cameras are point at my front of property. One at my door and the other on the front garden and into my kitchen window.
Also , I cannot screen off with planting or higher fence (Ours is 6ft!) as he has put them so high up its impossible to plant that high.

comeandgo

How old are your children?  

Will_hj

comeandgo said:

How old are your children?  

4 & 7!

Norman_Castle

Ask him to show you what can be seen by the cameras. If your house cannot be seen he'll have nothing to hide.

AdrianC

I very much doubt he is complying with the legislation...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

Have you been through the ICO's tool?
https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-being-filmed/i-m-unhappy-about-the-use-of-a-home-cctv-system-what-can-i-do/

Because the route through that seems to be fairly self-explanatory for me...
https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-being-filmed/i-m-unhappy-about-the-use-of-a-home-cctv-system-what-can-i-do/y/Yes/Yes
"Contact the police".

Will_hj

Norman_Castle said:

Ask him to show you what can be seen by the cameras. If your house cannot be seen he'll have nothing to hide.

Hi Norman, I have previously before lockdown and he just said "naaaaaahh cant see any of yours" and became a bit hostile. I mean its quite obvious he can as they are directly and purposely pointed. I felt if i pushed it he was going to get aggressive.
It's easy to say I should push him to show me, but really felt like he was raging inside and was extremely angry at my presents at that point , he had been ok to start with. He told me he is gypsyy heritage and he cage fight and told me how well connected he is blah blah blah almost threatening me. So I felt the civil route was ended there!

pinkteapot

Once life is more back-to-normal, definitely contact the police and say he’s making you very uncomfortable and has pointed several cameras at your house and garden where your young children play. 

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they went round to have a word with him, and that may be enough to put a stop to it.

I say wait till life is more normal because the police have really scaled back their dealing with minor issues. I know someone who had a case in progress with the police which has been dropped solely due to COVID, meaning someone has got away with a minor crime they’d freely admitted to.

Will_hj

pinkteapot said:

Once life is more back-to-normal, definitely contact the police and say he’s making you very uncomfortable and has pointed several cameras at your house and garden where your young children play. 

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they went round to have a word with him, and that may be enough to put a stop to it.

I say wait till life is more normal because the police have really scaled back their dealing with minor issues. I know someone who had a case in progress with the police which has been dropped solely due to COVID, meaning someone has got away with a minor crime they’d freely admitted to.

Tbh I originally thought oh this chap hasn't released these are pointed at my house, he have them moved down or not so directly pointed at us. I mean, that's what i expected. I have no issues with cctv nor the amount just the fact my family have no privacy. We cannot even use paddling pool for the kids. Blinds are half down permanently at the moment. 

Obviously I wouldn't bother the police at this point in time. But feel he just added an extra one to make use of no police.
 

KxMx

There is no harm in contacting your local PCSO office at this point. 
If they are too busy to deal with it they will tell you so, or you may be pleasantly surprised. 

jnhuasd

I'd call the police personally, explain your concerns and get them to have a word, especially if it invading your privacy and that of your kids. That or get a high powered laser pens and point it directly at the cameras for a number of minutes (joke).