security cameras and privacy etc.

worried123

Alderbank said:

worried123 said:

More recently a security camera at the front by my front door to prevent her from coming to my door.  

How does that camera prevent her coming to your door?

Because the police have strongly advised her not to do this (i cannot pos give you the history of what has gone on....).  She has not heeded the advice and the police need evidence.....she has been given an asb warning and I think they want to take it further and place an asb order ......they also wanted/want to have her charged with intimidation....etc etc....the camera will either deter her or it will give the police the evidence they need to take things further....

worried123

can i also add that ,more importantly, the camera makes me feel a bit safer.....she is quite terrifying...you never know what she is up to....and often late at night or during the night...

FreeBear

SpudGunPaul said:

TELLIT01 said:

There was a case a couple of years ago where a guys 'Ring' doorbell was filming his neighbour's front door.  He was taken to court and lost, so it's definitely worth getting advice from the police on this one.

Here's the article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

Unless the police know the technicalities of that case are they the best people to advise?

The police do law enforcement. They can not be relied upon to give advice about what is or is not legal. They collect evidence, and leave the legal decisions to the CPS.

If you want solid advice about the law, then I'm afraid you need to pay a solicitor for an expert opinion. Not many will be familiar with the finer points of the GDPR and privacy laws, so may refer you to a specialist in that field.

markin

Listening to the police has got many in trouble when they are taken to court themselves for harassment when trying to get the evidence, and the camera becomes their evidence that your are harassing and spying on them.

Just filming the wall could be a problem if they have access rights and can legally walk past.

And recording audio can also be spying/harassment.

ThisIsWeird

markin said:

Listening to the police has got many in trouble when they are taken to court themselves for harassment when trying to get the evidence, and the camera becomes their evidence that your are harassing and spying on them.

Just filming the wall could be a problem if they have access rights and can legally walk past.

And recording audio can also be spying/harassment.

'Can' be harassment, if designed or intended for this purpose. And you may get into trouble if you are clearly crossing this line and don't back down. 

Worried123 should be at no risk of this at all. 

For anyone in such circumstances, go on to the ICO website, have a 'chat' with them explaining your exact circumstances, and follow their guidelines. I wanted to know if I could include the neighb's window in the frame, and the (surprising to me) answer was 'yes', with the given provisos. Download the chat content and keep it.

Always be reasonable - be the exact opposite of the yob. I have just the bottom quarter of their window in shot, enough to show if it's opened. I cannot see into their house, and certainly have no desire to do so. I do, tho', quite like that my camera must be pretty obvious whenever they look out, and has a nice blue light on the front ..

TELLIT01

SpudGunPaul said:

TELLIT01 said:

There was a case a couple of years ago where a guys 'Ring' doorbell was filming his neighbour's front door.  He was taken to court and lost, so it's definitely worth getting advice from the police on this one.

Here's the article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

Unless the police know the technicalities of that case are they the best people to advise?

The OP is most likely to unintentionally breach data protection regulations if anything. 

Other than putting the cameras out of reach there is little they can do to prevent the neighbour damaging them. 

Police may know the basic laws about CCTV viewing neighbouring property.  It is at least a starting point.

SpudGunPaul

TELLIT01 said:

SpudGunPaul said:

TELLIT01 said:

There was a case a couple of years ago where a guys 'Ring' doorbell was filming his neighbour's front door.  He was taken to court and lost, so it's definitely worth getting advice from the police on this one.

Here's the article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

Unless the police know the technicalities of that case are they the best people to advise?

The OP is most likely to unintentionally breach data protection regulations if anything. 

Other than putting the cameras out of reach there is little they can do to prevent the neighbour damaging them. 

Police may know the basic laws about CCTV viewing neighbouring property.  It is at least a starting point.

They may also give incorrect advice. 

ThisIsWeird

The PO who attended my incident did recommend fitting CCTV, but gave no legal advice on how.

ICO are the regulating body - ask them, and keep a record of the chat. They were very good.

WeAreGhosts

The Fairhurst v Woodward case that was referred to earlier is slightly different. He was really only prosecuted because his filming was excessive (camera on a shed) and he shared data (specifically audio) with another neighbour who was not involved at all. It was the audio part that was of real concern to the judge.

As long as you are using CCTV to detect crime (harassment, intimidation, criminal damage, in your case) and have a privacy mask for the neighbour's privacy then you'll be fine. 
If you read the Domestic CCTV Systems page you'll find they can't actually do anything anyway. They can't enter your home, or retrieve your footage. https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/domestic-cctv-systems/
If the police ask you about it, say you're using it for your own safety and to collect evidence of a crime, then remind them that it's a civil matter.

Apodemus

If a Police Officer suggests to a member of the public that they should use a surveillance camera to gather evidence, would that not fall under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and get the PO into a lot of trouble if they had not made sure that the activity was suitably licenced?   They would be authorising covert surveillance.