fortune Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 A situation has arisen where by a neighbour has set up a video camera inside of his stair-landing window that overlooks my house, garden and the side access road to our cul-de-sac. It is impossible for us to know what he is actively viewing. He did this a couple of years ago and when I noticed this I had it out with him about what it was doing there and the fact that it appeared to be aimed at our bedroom windows rather than down onto his parked car which was his stated intention. He then moved the camera and positioned it in a different window viewing the main front road. Recently I noticed that he had put a trail cam on the wall of his house pointing over the access road towards our house. This trail cam has been removed and the video cam has arrived up in the landing window. I only noticed this video cam because the low afternoon sun was shining into his landing window and there was an eye like reflection from the lens and the polished chrome ring around the lens. I personally couldn’t give a hoot about what he is doing but the wife does not like it at all and calls him a peeping tom that it stalking us. What are the rules and regulations regarding this and who should I take it up with taking into consideration that this house is owned by the local council and he is a tenant of theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wascal Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 The data protection act covers commercial CCTV but not domestic . But you are protected under article 8 of the Human rights act “The Right to Respect for Private and Family Life, Home and Correspondence” Have another word with your neighbour and If you truly believe you are being harassed by these cameras speak to the old bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAYBURN Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 As far as I know don't think the camera can point at your windows or where children are playing. some info here: http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/cctv-privacy-and-the-law.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 I've got cctv covering my shared access between me and next door. My camera can see both of our properties and when he reported me the police told him there was nothing they could do about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 I've got cctv covering my shared access between me and next door. My camera can see both of our properties and when he reported me the police told him there was nothing they could do about it. The police would do wouldn't they. You are partialy doing their job for them. It ain't costing them anything to view the area. Do you live in an area of high crime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Have a read from the heading "using cctv on your property" https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/cctv/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Have a read from the heading "using cctv on your property" https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/cctv/ Thanks for that one. I think that covers it fairly well. We live in a very, very low crime area with no history of problems or vandalism and I dont think it is acceptable to feel as if we are being spyed on just because it makes him feel that he is the local nosey neighbour and has to oversee everything. if we had problems or there was vandalism ect I wouldn't mind him protecting his property but it isnt and he is viewing our garden and all of the house and windows along with when the kids are visiting with their children ect. If it was just a shared access there would be no problem. Perhaps he is one of those perverts or something. When I had it out with him before I said that if he wants to look at my rear through my windows, I'd might just as well drop my trousers there and then to save him the trouble. He did move the camera that time to a window that looked out over the main road. Perhaps he is a car spotter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 The police would do wouldn't they. You are partialy doing their job for them. It ain't costing them anything to view the area. Do you live in an area of high crime? Quite the opposite, I live in a small quiet village but my neighbour is a total ****** so the camera is there to prove my innocence every time he reports me to either the police or the council. The latest one was getting the police out to my parents house as it was Sunday and we were having our dinner when the police knocked on the door as my neighbour had made a complaint of criminal damage to a plant. The camera came in handy as it showed my neighbour tress passing on my property so it back fired on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 my neighbour had made a complaint of criminal damage to a plant. The camera came in handy as it showed my neighbour tress passing on my property so it back fired on him. That's a cracker. I bet that you made sure that he knew all about that one. Beware about the rules goveerning cctv. Tead the bit in the link above by welsh 1. I had a chat to the council as he is a tennant of theirs and they immeaditly said that he could do as he pleased because he is domestic. BUT I stalled them because they were using the same site as in the above link and when I pointed out that they were mistaken that you could only view inside your own boundary as in the site info they suddenly backtracked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Once it is directed towards your door or windows, whereby someone could be looking inside your house, it is classed as intrusive surveillance. I would be back to the Council rather rapidly and ask what they intended to do about it. If it is pointing at your window, I believe you have the right to see the footage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superspark Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 It would be wrong to purposely aim a cctv camera into someone's house or window and I would have something done about it. on the the subject of a shared drive way, speak to your neighbour before installing a camera. Let them know your intentions and concerns and allow them to see exactly what it can see, you might find their on your side. After having my works van broken into and £2500 worth of tools stolen "parked in the street outside my house" I installed cctv. I don't monitor it but if there has been damage done to my vehicles then I will view the time date stampt footage. To date I have caught 2 hit and run drivers costing thousands of pounds worth of damage to my vehicles along with many other anti social behaviour incidents sorted and with footage had the culprits traced and prosecuted. I have had on many occasions, the police and C.I.D. round to view footage where I have supplied them with footage of criminal activities taking place where footage has led to prosecutions. I have had several neighbours call at my house and said how much safer they feel knowing the camera's are there. Bottom line is, the crime has dropped off dramatically and as a consequence, it's a much better place to live. The criminals stay away and if there's something gone on the police can view it which makes their job easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Why he wants to watch your area is strange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 first up the plod as ever are not going to deal with this situation. what a surprise second the council will, you just need to keep working on them buy a massive ex bbc studio 1970's camera and stand and set it up in your garden directly facing his windows and see what happens, or install your own and make a lot and i mean a lot of arm pointing in his camer direction paint ball gun springs to mind lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 It would be wrong to purposely aim a cctv camera into someone's house or window and I would have something done about it. on the the subject of a shared drive way, speak to your neighbour before installing a camera. Let them know your intentions and concerns and allow them to see exactly what it can see, you might find their on your side. After having my works van broken into and £2500 worth of tools stolen "parked in the street outside my house" I installed cctv. I don't monitor it but if there has been damage done to my vehicles then I will view the time date stampt footage. To date I have caught 2 hit and run drivers costing thousands of pounds worth of damage to my vehicles along with many other anti social behaviour incidents sorted and with footage had the culprits traced and prosecuted. I have had on many occasions, the police and C.I.D. round to view footage where I have supplied them with footage of criminal activities taking place where footage has led to prosecutions. I have had several neighbours call at my house and said how much safer they feel knowing the camera's are there. Bottom line is, the crime has dropped off dramatically and as a consequence, it's a much better place to live. The criminals stay away and if there's something gone on the police can view it which makes their job easier. a friend local to where i live had a recording of car crimes ,dangerous driving,drug dealing and other items, he even had one video of a bloke pulling a gun on one of the drug dealers opposite his house one afternoon on ALL OCCASIONS the police refused the video, refused to see it or to take it and refused to deal with any of the crimes that were reported, there reasons were they are not worth investigating the cctv and police only ever work when they want it too i have heard of people not being able to use recordings because the police deam them as unsuitable, even though you can clearly see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 a simple answer would be a CREE torch set onto a spot beam (and flashing) pointed at the lens should knacker the auto focus up nicely. You can buy a cheapie from China that will run on a couple of AA Batterys, couple of rechargeables and you are away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 a simple answer would be a CREE torch set onto a spot beam (and flashing) pointed at the lens should knacker the auto focus up nicely. You can buy a cheapie from China that will run on a couple of AA Batterys, couple of rechargeables and you are away what a brilliant idea ph5172 would it also work with a IR lamp as well. most of these day and night ones seam to work with IR open so it would work day and night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 A good IR torch with a focused beam should blind the camera? The IR filters arent normally 100% and the guy wouldnt be able to see the beam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superspark Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 10gaugewannabee you say a friend of yours had recordings but the police didn't want to use it. Do you know if he had the proper cctv sign's up and on display and time/date stampt footage. If not then the footage is not admissible in a court of law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 10gaugewannabee you say a friend of yours had recordings but the police didn't want to use it. Do you know if he had the proper cctv sign's up and on display and time/date stampt footage. If not then the footage is not admissible in a court of law. Rubbish,if you are using it on your house you do not need to display any sinage at all,time date stamped footage is useful but is not required,you can fiddle with it and change the time and date. If you want a time date stamp that is to believed you need a tamper proof recording device with each frame individually numbered to show it had not been tampered with,I had this ,but remember to change your clocks when bst comes along,I forgot but the footage was still used in court displaying the wrong time as the numbered frames showed it was not tampered with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 I have CCTV fitted to the front and rear of the property after trouble with my neighbour,it doesn't overlook a thing other than my property.The only thing I had to do was have a sign put or advising that CCTV is in operation,and since that day I have had zero bother,no vandalism ,no confrontations nothing.Its the best thing I ever did,Never spoken or acknowledged the *** in over 5yrs since getting it installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 A good IR torch with a focused beam should blind the camera? The IR filters arent normally 100% and the guy wouldnt be able to see the beam. i am loving this idea for the OP as well as my self, zero visability from the source of the video camera intrusion and at the same time blocking the cctv recordings and keeping privacy it could be fancy mains or 12v powered lamp units or a simple torch with the beam focused and the bulb changed . what a great simple idea many thanks for that i shall have to look into it, what freq do i have to find to make it non visable as i have been told some are visable at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 If you was to use IR lazer then the visible red will be tiny and you could focus on the lens area with a little flood beam. You can buy with visible lazer and IR in one unit but two beams. You the one to aim and then leave IR running. If using a torch it shows up to the backed eye when pointed at. On op note. When I have police over for checks, first thing they ask is where my camera are pointing, if I have private property on vsiw then it has to be masked out with camera privacy setting. All mine are out of sight as I found a number of youngsters liked to play the fool in front of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 (edited) I am not interested in playing silly games with this bloke such as using Ir torches or anything like that. As I previously stated I had it out with him a couple of years ago about the use of this type of video camera overlooking our house and he moved it elsewhere. I have no problem in confronting him about it again face to face but this time I have been onto the local council so that he knows it is official and that he has been trodden on. Using the web site information provided by Welsh 1 >> "The information commissioners office" >> this is the same site that the woman at the council used as the guideline. The woman at the council and most likely the police will too, started by saying that domestic cctv was exempt but using the text from the web site I informed her that she was mistaken as he was viewing an area outside of his boundary and as such that he was not exempt from the data protection act. >> text below copied from the web site. Suddenly she backtracked and said that this would be passed onto the housing manager for this area and that action would be taken. Today I called them up again to find out what was happening and was told that an internal message had been sent to the manager. Tuesday I will be on the phone to them again to make the point as I already have done that I am not going to let this rest and that I will be taking further action in regard to this. I bring the readers attention to the highlighted text as it is not just pointing a camera towards doors or windows it is a case of viewed use outside of your own boundary that will not be covered by the domestic purposes exemption What if my camera captures footage of individuals beyond the boundaries of my property? You must consider whether it is necessary for your camera to operate beyond the boundary of your property. If your camera covers, even partially, any areas beyond the boundaries of your property, such as neighbouring gardens or the street, then it will no longer be exempt from the Data Protection Act (DPA) under the domestic purposes exemption. Edited May 1, 2015 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted May 2, 2015 Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 cool. go for it, for me in my situation the ir beam is better and a lot less hassle from theseidiots three doors away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted May 2, 2015 Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 What if my camera captures footage of individuals beyond the boundaries of my property? You must consider whether it is necessary for your camera to operate beyond the boundary of your property. If your camera covers, even partially, any areas beyond the boundaries of your property, such as neighbouring gardens or the street, then it will no longer be exempt from the Data Protection Act (DPA) under the domestic purposes exemption. DPA doesn't mean they can't have the CCTV camera where it is - just that they are subject to the DPA. I.e. they have to provide you with copies of all the captured video of you for 10 quid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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