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Many people are unclear about how CCTV can be used and their rights when they’re the ones being recorded. This article will answer some common questions for people who feel that their neighbours are misusing their CCTV cameras and filming things that invade their privacy.
A poor relationship with your neighbour for whatever reason may make this impossible, but try talking to your neighbour first. Let them know that it looks like the camera is pointing at your property and ask if they mind adjusting the angle. In most cases they wouldn’t realise that they’re filming your property in a way that makes you uncomfortable and will be happy to adjust it. Legally you should not point your CCTV cameras at someone elses property and deliberately doing so can lead to prosecution. Individuals have the right to monitor their property and some surrounding area but not if it is to the detriment of other individuals privacy.
Not everyone has a summer BBQ, borrowing as spoon of sugar kind of relationship with their neighbours. In fact, the presence of CCTV is sometimes because of poor neighbour relationships where individuals feel the need to monitor their premises. Read our blog CCTV and the Law Part 1: Home Use of CCTV for more information on the legal ins and outs of using CCTV. If your neighbours are not willing to change the direction their camera is facing then Ask The Police website recommends seeking legal advice from a solicitor. The Information Commissioners Office recommends speaking to your local police who may intervene and request that your neighbour change the angle of the camera. Keep record of any conversations with your neighbour about their CCTV such as date, time, and what you and your neighbour said. This may be needed as evidence that your neighbour has been unwilling to move the camera.
